Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-07-10
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Clerks Statement.

Maumee City. June 2l. 1850.
Having seen several accou nts Of the late mel.
ancholy disaster oa board the steamer Grilksh,
which not entirely correct. l ~li give yop
my own experience. as far regards myself
and friends.
l was first awake ned about "A O'Clock, A. NJ,
by the heat and smoke rushing into tho Office
window. which had left partly open to ven,i.
late the office. ! Immediately rose and nut on
my boots. (having slept with my pants and vest
o".l and went directly into the cabin. where I
found my mother. Mrs. Rohy, her daughter Ab-
by, and Alice Champion. my niece, collected
together there. Capt. Roby came in, and
asked me il l had saved anything from tho Of
flee; upon my replying l had not. he told me to
go and save what I could. l then started for
the Office, but could not get there on account Of
the fire. and Immediately returned TO the cabin,
and was also requested by Capt. Rohy to cali
Mrs. Studdifurd, whose husband was part owner
Of the boat, but found her room to be on firc.
aud saw nothing Of her. thea, with some diff
fc"lty. obtained or / blankets from room, se
wrap the women aud children in, aud the a went
with them to tho bow Of the boat. as tho fire vi -
at this time burning aft. the boat running at full
speed the current Of air keeping the fire AFT
Capt Robys orders were for all to keep etIl
until she struck the shore. But, unfortunately
a; the distance of half mile from Shore she
struck small sand bar, which bauished all
hopes Of reaching the shore in her. As soon 20
the boat struck tho bar, the flames ruslbd for.
ward. the word was given to leave the boat -
fast AS possible. When this order was given.
myself and friends were together on the iowsr
deck, forward Of the engine. Mr.. Donovan, the
steward. jumped with Abby, Capt. Roby with
his wife. and ! followed with nv mother and
she held Alice in her arms. Just previous to
my jumping. had thrown over some wood aud
as we rose to the surface, caught a piece Of
wood under my right arm, aud held my mother
around the waist with my left; aud she had hold
OF my vest collar with her right hand. aud held
Alice in her left arm. Mother tainted after
coming up the hrst time. said 10 nlollle r
what is the matter' She made me no answer
and began to sink. taking me down with her;
strangled good deal and rose again; when 1
came to, l found mother and Alice zone.
caught hold Of a piece Of wood about twice the
any thing Of mother or Alice, but could not
Nor did see anything Of any Of my friends.
by this time the enigrants. numbering about
21j. had begun 10 jump over like sheep. without
any regard as to where they Jumped. aud were
catching at me on all sides. l kept then, of.
when seeing an open space towards the shore,
pushed my stick forward aud swan for il; this l
kept doing until clear Of the crowd, when I tri-
ed to pull off my boots. but found il Impossible
then SWAN for the shore, and when about hsif
way, being greatly exhausted, Mr.. Evans, the
lst mate, and Mr.. Choate, a wheelsman, came
past me. told them l did not think could
stand il TO swim TO the shore Evans told mo 70
keep cool, and Mr.. Choate told me TO put the
stick which held in my hand under my chin.
did SO, and swan much easier. Ia fact from,
that time felt encouraged, and swan without
much difficulty. When within ihrss or fose
rods Of the shore l met Mr.. Stibbens, the lse
Engineer, with boat going back I called 10
him and got into the boat, and returned i.usns.
diately to the wreck TO save all we could.
Yours respectfully,
HENRY WILKINSON