Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-06-22
From the Cleveland True DemOciat.
Full Particulars Of the Burning Of the
Steamer G.. p. Griffith.

Full Particulars Of the Burning Of the
Steamer G. p. Griffith,
Death has visited us in fearful form, and
with terrible effect
The steamer G. P. Griffith, was consumed
about daylight this morning, and We fear some
two hundred souls perished amid flame and
water!
When first the alarm was given, the passen-
gers were cool and collected. 1t was thought
the boat could reach the land-for which she
was steering-and that thus all would be
saved
But, sadly, the steamer struck upon sand
bar, half mile off shore, and then panic
reigned. The passengers, according TO those
who were saved, became wild with despair,
and plunged madly into the water as if life
was safe there Death, alas! came 10 them
amid the gurgling sound Of the watery waste,
and by scores they left their home on earth.
for their home, we hope, in heaven.
OF the cause OF the FIRE, We know nothing
And the saved, unfortunately, can explain
nothing. They were in bed and asleep All
they know is, that about three o'elock-or
about day-break-the alarm of FIRE was given.
The shore was in sight. Hope said it could
be reached, and all were still But when the
bar was struck, hope was converted into des-
pair, and wildly, death by fire was Stunned TO
meet death amid the waters The passengers
plunged into the lake, and but few were saved.
The number of passengers on board is thus
stated
Steerage 256
Cabin As
Crew 25
Total S36
Mr.. R. G. Parks, Postmaster of Rochester,
Pa, and well known to our citizens, was aboard,
and one of the svved. We give his account
as he gave it to us.
He was aroused at or near A. NJ The
fire was then burning in the rims of the Chin
neys of the boat They were distant from
land three miles. The second mate ordered
the boat ashore, which was Immediately
obeyed.
When within half mile of the shore she
grounded The flames had not then burst out
in the forward part of the cabin. But imme
diately after the pilot house was enveloped,
The command was then given, from one o
the officers to the passengers, TO save them
selves.
Many of them Immediately jumped over
board, when the Captain called to the meI
below, to throw the wood which was on fir,
overheard.
Men then in the cabin, and on the lowe
deck, jumped overboardin crowds, some TWEEN
ty at time
The Captain remained on the upper deck
near his state room, forward of the whee
house. After all the passengers had jumped
overheard, the captain threw the barber's wife
his mother, wife and child, into the lake ant
plunged in himself He remained momen
| on the surface, when with his wife in his arms
they both sank together.
j Not female or chld-ffteen were count
ed-was saved, exceptth the barber's wife.
4 There were at least according to Mr. Park
estimate t,0o hundred and tftfy enatgraRts
i (chiefy from England and Germany forty
fire or fifty cabin passengers, beside the cre'
numbering about twenty-five.
The number of those saved on the beach
was only forty!
/ MI. Parks was on the wheel He could nc
i SWIM While three scores floated round him
shrieking rnadly, Save mel Save! He coul
do nothing. He felt like giving up. Blu
j with few others be held on, and soon III
/ struggle was over, and all was quiet save tn
sound of the waters as they beat against tn
charred hull of the steamer.
This was the first trip Capt Roby ha
made
The people on the shore were alive with an
xiety, and did all they could to relieve then
!, After daylight search was made for the bod
les Two and three were taken up at time
and they were lain upon the shore.
It twas sad sight to behold. Their requi
em, the moaning of the surf; their death-plact
the wild lake shore. Strangers and relative
lay there, young and old, as quietly and sti
as if their temples nought had burned say
what might be incense in Heaven.
No books were saved. A list, therefore, c
the names of passengers cannot be given
These we must catch up as we can. The ac
eident has been attended with fearful loss {
life-as fearful as any we have had-and ev
cry means should be taken-not only to pa
every respect to the dead-but TO ascertai
the cause of the disaster, and the names {
those who have perished.