New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-08-09
!. NUMBER J |. : 1856.
7 the VI Disaster q, Lake George.


lhls M feared that many more lives were lost than at
reported. AT least fifteen IA ala II e
ihs Wne q Y. lBelknapp, banker Of New York,
9. ThWing, Esq Of Rozbtiry. Msss. Reti II ttesa3
ladies' were daughters Of Thos Havans IA, ~
Philadelphia. Ne A aa' ##s5
we copy the following from the Albany Evening
Journal, Of The 31st ult
The flames were kept in sutiactoyl for
but it soon became apparent that theY eonI nat II
subdued. The boat, when the danger aDpearad M
1ninent was headed toward the shore Ill fhe nenhhnr
hood OF Garfeld's, but it being rocky bottom, she
most npsetting by the rebound. H
1t was at this time, it is supposed, that those who
were drowned, we're either thrown or jumped over
board. And those who remained on the boat--about
eighty in nuinber-Tere in the highest state OF eg-
element. The flames were spreading rapidlv. and
the passengers were rushing in various directions to
escape them. It was impossible to preserve anything
like order: and as the er ropes had been burnt off
ne poat became unmanageable 4 few Ieaped over
board with chairs, and other floating material, and
we're rescued. Tbs atheEs were taken off in small
boats Its charged that the officers Of the boat be-
haved badly, and that the small boat of the steamer
was not launched asst should have been This charge
however, should not be two readily credited
v A gentleman who was passenger in the John Jays
has communicated to the Herald the suboined in.
We reached Ticonderoga via Lake CnampIain at 2
2. NJ on Tuesday, the 10Th of July. The number of
passengers who left the ChampIain boat to pass
through Lake George was larger by twothirds, than
at any time before during this season. consequently
there was not sufficient accommodation at HAND to
convey all to Lake George, (by stage four miles y
part We're taken Immediately, the balance remained
for the stages to return This occupied the better par
OF four hours and many began to fear we should not
have daylight to view the scenery Of the lake The
caOtaT1 T hos
that his ues would choak up, and he was afraid he
shouldn't make as good time as usual. A gentleman
who was talking with liim-Mr. Sheffield Of New
Haven. Ithink-will remember the conversation. He
told the captain that an hour two more or less was
nothing-that we should reach Cadwell's abundantly
early, and that he had better not crowd his boat
The reply did not hear. Mr.. S. will doubtless re-
member it, II 4$Ei& hi @ Es 5s 3:a85 9f5z 5859z %
We left the foot Of Lake George a few Minutes he
fore SIX We went along finely for about eight miles,
when saw from near the engine room a dense mass
OF smoke puff ont, then another was sitting on the
after deck above, with my wife. We Immediately
ran down to the first deck, and took our position on
the extreme after part Of the boat. AT this time one
ofthe crew came running that way said there was no
danger, and seized two buckets Of water that stood
near, and started for the deck with them. s | then
raised myself upon the outer railing Of the guard and
looked above. when saw the flames bursting ont
Just at this time the captain came running by where
Istood. He ran about six eight feet one way, then
back again. turned to my wife TO see what effect
most desperate emergency would have, when found
her seit-possessed She promised to remain qniet
until procured some life preservers that hung in the
gangWay. 4ts n 85 svs "A 43#*s ,58 l$,sss-2}s 53
When tried to initiate them found them useless:
they were either destroyed by age or from some
other cause. At any rate the air escaped as fast as
could introduce it, so had to depend entirely tipon
my ability to sWm and Of course anxiously watched
for the monentare should approach the shore. We,
however, Kept on our course tearing through the wa
ter but not headed for the land heard several voices
cry, "Stop hertz aPut her ashore " but alas who
was to do it. will not stop to detailing expert
ence. Suffice it that got safely to shore with my
wife. As climbed up the bank was so much eS.
hausted that could not have stretched out my arm
to have saved the dearest friend on earth saw two
bodies under the water drifting helplessly by, but
could not save them.
! was spared the most narrowing sight, while all
were in the water. for after had jumped from the
boat she passed little headland or point, and from
my position the struggles of the suffering were shut
from my sight. The boat took fire at or near twenty
minutes after six, and from the time the first smoke
burst out till she lay continued fame from stem to
stern could not have exceeded ten minutes Fortu-
nately we were within half mile Of country hotel,
kept by Mr.. Garfield, at place called the Hague.
Your readers will excuse my dgressing from the mar
rative to speak word Of the hoblehearted inmates
Of that house. They opened every room, closet and
chest, to try and aid their suffering guests. Even
their maids gave freely the last rag of underclohng
and only regretted that they could not do more The
neighbors, understood, were equally kind. There
was one store in the place, and the owner placed
everything therein at the service Of the half clad pas
sengers. He told every one to help themselves and
make out their own memorandum. sincerely hope
he lost nothing by his generosity.
We had not been long at the hotel before they be-
gan to bring in the bodies. It was not till then that
any fully appreciated the danger from which they had
escaped.
Tie remains Of Miss Renshaw, from New Orleans.
were brought to the hotel and there were some parts
of the body that retained warmth Every effort was
made by the ladies present to resusctate her. but it
was too late She was a beautiful creature, just
eighteen years of age, and the only daughter Of pa
rents that had Iavished everything that money could
bring upon her education, which she had Just compile
ted, and was making this Northern trip under the
protection of her uncle and his wife, j. A. White and
lady. l had observed them on the boat before and
shortly after we started so happy, so cheerful every
thing must have looked SO beautiful to her she saw
her pathway filled with roses, and trod SO gaily along
that it seems as though there could not have been
cloud shadowed upon the morning of her life.
Mrs. ThWing. who was lost, was the mother Of no
Bile little boy who was travelling with her. They rode
in the coach with ME from lake to lake. The bright
sayings of the dear little fellow made many inquire
his age How proudly the fond mother glanced at
her darling boy as he told his years. A gentleman
remarked that little Walter had fine head. "We
hope" said the doating parent that there's some
thing in it, for we have taken great care in his train
ing Too sadly were her words verified. When the
little sufferer had got safe to shore from the wreck
he saw his helpless mother floating beneath the sur
face of the water; he sprang to save her, but was
held by those whose feeble arms were as helpless as
his own. He then knelt upon the stones and poured
forth such fervent prayer to God to save his poor
mother but no, her doom was sealed. and she is
now an angel in heaven. Her widowed husband and
orphan child have gone to their desolate hearth fol-
lowed by the remains of her who had made their
home the happiest spot on earth.
Long after dark, and when four bodies had been
brought in there began to be inquiries for baggage
proceeded alone to the wreck, found one of my
trunks near the shore, but in close proximity to the
buraing vessel. dragged it up into the woods, but
could get no assistance so left it to find some.
found man who was willing to go if I would pay
him enough; | offered him two dollars, and he ac-
cepted. When we reached the place had left it in,
there was half dozen human sharks that closed
around me- each and all clamorous for remuneration,
saying, they had dragged it from the shore' .that
it would have been burnt before this,' etc. They
had great pile of shaws, bonnets, bags, parasols,
hats, cans, etc, which they were pulling over, much
as one of our New York rag-piekers would examine
o pile Of rubbish thrown into the street.
The burning wreck lay roaring within a few yards
and many thought her boilers must explode. What
cared these vuures? AY0n could read their thoughts
upon their faces as the tckering flames cast their
light upon them. /" The greater the destruction the
greater the plunder There were several decanters
of brandy sent there for the out passengers but
these men mon0polizedit it. Two Of them invited me
to drink from their private TASKS.
1t would be unjust in me not to say that there were
many laborers about there who did their duty like
men, for humnnty's sake, not for pay or plunder
Rough plank collins were made and the bodies packed
in ice were conveyed toward their respective homes