Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22
TERRIBLE CALAMITY ON LAKE ERIE.

BUFFALO, JUNE 1.-THE fine steamer " Grit
fifth" Capt. RoBY, while on her way up the lake,
took fire about o'clock this morning, when about
twenty miles below Cleveland, and was burnt to
the waters edge.
The mate who swan ashore from the burning boat fol
help, has reached Cleveland, and reports that only thirty Of
those board saved and these had to swim ashore
there being other vessel render assistance Capt
Roby, his wife and child, among the lost
reported that there three hundred persons
board Of whom emigrans their way TO the
West II this correct estimates the number Of the lost
may probably exceed two hundred.
The on the burning wreck described having
been agonizing in the extreme II is the greatest calamity
that has occurred Lake Ere since the destruction by fire
Of the steamer "Ere," some years ago.
The last report at o'clock this evening" sets down the
whole number of lives lost two hundred and sixty 1t
is stated that Mr. F. Heath, his wife and four children, are
among the lost
The Cleveland Herald furnishes some further
particulars of this sad catastrophe, as follows:
We have the painful record make of the terrible
calamity that has occurred inland The soul
sckens at the details In amonnn three hundred per-
sons were aroused from the heahu sleep OF morning to enter
upon the sleep that knows waking How true that Gin
the midst Of life in DEATH" large portion of the
passengers were foreign immigrants from Germany who had
crossed Safety perished
almost IN sight OF the homes of their adoption. How sad the
wall that will be waited the Fatherand-kndred separated
and whole families cut off and buried by stranger hands,
The steamer Griffith, when about fourteen miles below
Cleveland, abou. four o'clock this Montay) morning. dis
to be fire around smoke ppe the main deck
She was about three miles from shore. The second mate
then watch orders her ashore The boat
then headed for shore, and when about half mile from shore
she struck bar and before the flames burst above Inn
medatey after she struck the flames burst in forward
and after cabin and pilot house. An officer gave word the
passengers to save themselves Captain Roby gave orders for
the woodpes be thrown over which done. The cabin
and deck passengers then jumping in crowds The
Captain remained board the upper deck, forward Of
wheel house, until the last, with his family and until the
flames drove him off, Hethen threw his wife, children,
motherinaw, and the BARRIERS wife, and jumped in himself
and remained the surface moment with his wife in his
arms, when they sank together.
The only females saved the BARRIERS wife and three
of the Storage passengers of whom Germans
Among the cabin passengers were fifteen ladies' all OF whom
lost We learn there board in all $50 persons
256 Storage and As cabin passengers and 80 Of the
From 80 to 40 saved
We left the scene of the wreck at two o'clock this after
noon and that time hundred and forty bodies had
been recovered and most Of them those of German emgan
They have been found eight together linked the close
embrace Of death An English and her four children
who had been sent for by the husband dent Of this cy
had risen early and dressed themselves in their best greet
the husband and father All were lost
The row OF corses along the beach, with green leaves laid
the face of each, and the limbs distorted sight
hope never again to witness. .a..2 .. + ts.I.."
The wreck of the Griffith lies about forty rods from shore,
and of ruins from which the pipes project When
she first struck it and half feet of water.
The New York Tribune suggests that the only way to pre-
vent such disasters by the passage Of general law forbid
ding steamboats, carry passengers without having been
dered substantially eproo by covering their floors and decks
with combustbls sheahing-on TIM zinc
other This need not te expensive, and would be very e
fecual. Bat to build boat of dry infammabe wood,
besh with curtains, carpets, &c. and paint it with highly
inapmabe oils, &c. when il known that such boats must
usually, when employed be far from land filled with human
beings, propelled by fire. with cooking, warming, &c. in
operation and movable lights in at nsht-wha is that
but foohardy and criminal rfing with human life ; And
there is way tit thinks) Of overcoming the combined inu
ences of cupdity and tenerisy but by force Of law