Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-09
SfiSCELEIAN .
From the Rutland Herald.l
Burniuu of the phPnix


Mn. HAYDEN Having been passenger on
board of that Inflated steamboat, on Lake
Champlain, on the night Of sept. 4th, 1919
the night that witnessed its destruction
| wish to place the history OF that disastrous
affair in its proper light.
Just after the burn ng Of tho " Phoenix"
occurred, a false statement WAS made that the
hcroism of her commander saved the life of
every soul on board.
have before me the Middlcbury Mcssen-
ger of Sept, Sth, 1919, which says, in giving
an account Of the loss of the a. Phoenix, -
:. Among those that perished We're Gilbert
Painter Of Quebec passenger Mrs. Wilson,
the Superintendent Of the Ladies' Depart
ment ;-Ziba Manning, pilot Harry Blash,
Stephen Kellis, and Andrew Harrison, of the
crew. There was poor Frcnchman,
name unknown, who lay on deck under can
vass, and two young men from New York,
who were never seen after the disaster-thus
making total of nine lost. My only object
in making this statement is that no one APP
pears to dispute it.
The principal causes which led to this ca
tastrophe were frst-RuM; second y-the fact
of the buckets having been locked up for
fear Of their being lost by the passengers in
their cndcavors to procure water. Thus
when the buckets should have been full and
in IL convenient place, not drop of water
could be procured
The following is rs brief an account Of the
burning of the Phoenix" as | am able to
give and it may not be improper to state
that in the course of my connection with the
Ordinance Service during the War of 1872,
it deyolyed on me to transport ordinance
stores 50 often between Burlington and Platts-
burgh, that few were so well acquainted with
/ g bn Lob hot m
! places. At that time Port Kent did not exist;
| and the boat-routc led near 9 Sharp-shin" "
and Apple-tree" Points, by lnner-Colches-
ter Rect. and then in direct line to Platts-
burgh.
On the 4th of September, 1919, went
on board the I" Phoenix" at Burlington, but
did not engage a berth for the night, although
it was u O'clock. As was walking the
deck Of the boat, which had at the time pro-
cecded about four miles, | caught sight OF
two Of the crew, clinSing to the railing in q
manner that betokened their having " taken
a drop too much" The steward happened
! to come near them a few moments afterwards
and they held up to his view black bottle
with the remark that they wanted pint o
rum , and the steward took the bottle Not
long afterwards, they worked themselves
into dispute about a light which could ther
be seen on the main land. While one insisted
that it was fire, the other was contdon
it was candle; aud they agreed at last t,
let me decide between Them lit was a fire
and their being intoxicated alone prevented
them from knowing it at hrst.)
soon the wind blew quite strongly, and
walked to the stern Of the vessel. Will
here conversing with Mr.. Geo. Burnham the
a Custom House officer, Capt. Richard cam
near US and said to my George
. Just 90 forward and see how like the devi
the wind blows" In fact, the gale was $
furious as to cause the waves to rush up Il
high as the bows of the Phnenix but it di
not continue long, and We went down int
the cabin. In few minutes, finding myse
left alone, went up the stairs, intending t
go on deck, but did not succeed in attemptin
r to open the door. Then | cane back to tn
. cabin and laid dcwn ON long scat, with m
c clothes still on. While yet but PARTIAL
asleep, smelt smoke, but not thinking
unusual. took no more notice OF 1t, at Il
time. However, after a while, the smell
smoke was as strong as ever, and was abol
to rise, and ascertain the cause, when | 81
Mr.. Allwyn, of Quebec, get out of his bert
with the same Object. We wont to the hea
of the cabin stairs, and inquired what Il
s cause was voice replied A fire IN q
htcheA."
There was no ire to he seen, howeve
neither had the cry Of - Fire. been raise
Th,re was some smoke rushing through
hatchway on the left, and which | no soon
q, saw than called for buckets but could n
Z procure any | have never had the lea
doubt that with the timely aid of bucket
water, | could have efectually stopped t
fire the buckets were locked up, becdt
N the passengers might lose them in trying
get water while the boat was in motion y
M a drop If 0ater ,cas used.
ps " hen | again looked at tho place frt
~ which the smoke had proceeded, volumes
mngled smoke and fame were pouring ou
tho heated oil in the engine was soon il
blaze, Then arose the cry" All is lost, a
the order was gwen down with !
boats" Tho boats were lowered. and ! 81
- several females in the boat to the windwar
the one on the lceward was aaoat, when s
it, apparently at a distance Of twenty f
from the steamboat. Ii came towards
shortly, and the first passenger and mys
jumped into it from the deck At first ! 81
posed one of my legs was broken however
got to the stern OF the boat, and held it
we'll as possible to the steamboat. 10
Persons of Shelburne, cut the how're
when it swung around and then there
a cry Of " Cut the stern-rOpc, or we shall
under and Persons cat 1t off close to
side. | know that the boat was held up
the " Ph@nix" long enough to he filled SC
"'' raj times positively know that Capt.
e., sherman did not show himself on de6A M
both small boats had left for Providence
+ land.