The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-22
The Burning OF the Steamer Northern In-
diana.
prom the Bunalo Adyertiser. Jolly l9.l

The Burning OF the steamer Northern In
diana.
From the Buffalo Advertiser, July TO-
The following y The statement Of W. H. wetmore nrst
mate Of the Northern Indiana who was in command Oh
the vessel at the time Of the accident
We len Buffalo Wednesday evening, July To- at seven
O'Clock, with medium load. The crew numbered be-
tween hfy and SIXTY. Thursday morning. about ten
minutes past II O'clock when about half way between
Point Pelee reef and Point Pelec lighthouse while
was on the pothouse the engineer sent man 70 me ana
Isupposed there was some disturbance with tho men
and ran Immediately below, and when reached there
the nrst engineer Mr.. Farrer, getting tia hose
ready and attaching it to the fire engine Mr.. +. said,
''My God, Mr.. Wetmore she's adre.n There is round
between the engine and the smoke pipe the star
board side saw light underneath the main deck.
turned about and ran to call the men, passing some on
the deck, whom told To 10 the engineer proceed
ed TO the forecastle where two three Of tho men
were sleeping, and told them to rouse. immediate
ly ran back TO tho engineer, and found be ha
got TO work with the fire engine, and also saw
the flames bursting through the hatches saw she was
badly fire, and cali the second mate, for the
purpose OF altering her course AS got on the ONO
made deck met him, and he said, MY God, Mr. Wet
more, what's the mat r?" told him, 'shes burning
up" ran into the pilot house, and helped him 10 alter
the course OF the vessel for the point Of Point
Pelee Island supposng she would make the island before
her engine would STOP then returned TO the main deck
to'he engineer, when found the flames driven OF
those working the IRE engine and the flames mady
ing on again went 70 the promenade deck ana found
the IRE bursting through the upper deck around The en-
gine thence ran to my room, which aon gsde the
wheehousc TO get and bad hard work get back
through the flames, which burned my hands consdera-
bly,. AS came forward met the second mate and
OF the wheesmen who said they had the boats the
cranes. wen Immediately on to the promenade deck
with my axes, and when got there the forward
boat was crowded with men, felt sure they would all
be lost unless could get them out Of IT, took an axe
in my hand and ran forward and told them they would
all be lost unless they got out
Mr. Farrer the engineer and the second engineer were
trying TO pull them out Of the boat ana succeeded ~ get
ting out by the greatest possible exeruon AT that
moment the cranes gave way by the weight or those in
the boat and she went down end forward and spilled
most OF toem into the water The boat would hold eigh
teen or twenty and was crowded to excess When she
went down knew what would result and did not stop TO
look at her, but turned round ald the whom
had sent aft. They said they could get aft the
flames would not permit them. then turned TO the pas
seDgers, and begged them 10 keep cool and would
them all at the same time knowing there about
cords OF plank about half way aft on the arhoard sde
ran where the plank was and also called TO the crew
to get the planks out brought ont an arnul and then
went back 10 the opposite side and brought another load
constantly urged the passengers 10 obey my orders and
would insure safety got them at work getting out
plank and wood work. such doors and panehngs The
engineers and second mate were assisting me all the
time. The panel work all cut away, and as fast
got out was passed 10 the passengers.
We then rushed into the cabin and hauled out the din
ing tables and drew them forward We then spread
them out in full length and dropped them overheard 70
the passengers who were floating in the water, We
threw them over bottom side up, and likewise threw
side tables. SOFAS arm chairs, etc. which We're 10 the
cabin. BY this time the boat had stopped. cannot tell
exactly when she did STOP but confident she could
nave over from the time when The IRE
out. After getting all out OF the cabin, we commenced
cutting away the tenders, and urging 70 get upon
them We cut away everything that could afford any as
sistancc. then went forward the promenade deck.
The engineer and second mate and wbeesmen went be.
low the orecasc deck and commenced passing every
thing out OF the forecaste deck About this time OF
the passengers called my attention TO OF the broken
crane stanchons, aud tried TO get II out bat did not
succeed. finally managed to cut II on with an axe.
woman shortly after came TO me and said, 80 am
alone with four little childen" She had one at the time
in her arms. took and passed up 10 the passenger
.h,--a Of, lea
passed me the other three children. Soon AFTER another
woman passed me babe about six months old
about five six miles astern when the Ore
broke out, bad picked up most Of them In the
water. BY this tine her small boats. aud those
propeller Republic came alongside 10 pick those OH from
the Northern Indiana. The boats were full Of liz, pre-
The persons in the boats kept throwing the
buoys overheard and called passengers TO jump
over The women seemed afraid 10 do this passcn.
ger about this time said 10 me- Take this child aud
will 60 and put them 0he passengers who would not
Jump overheard took the child and had another
der my arm and three chnging 70 The passcn.
ger (whosc did not learn worked herocay, and
water and then lowered the children away 10 them by
heaving lines. My friend the passenger the last
man. with the exception Of myself who lcft the vessel
Previous 10 leaving her walked AFT from fifteen 10
twenty feet and stood there without any
convenience from the flames. then lowered myself
the forecastc the SIDE IL there any
sippis boats which just came out We pulled the boat
round TO the stern OF the steamer and took OF
then pulled round to the ceward and
IN the wheel called out 20 them 70 swi out from the
boat II they could. They not doing H. pulled under
the lee OF the wheel house and then underneath and
found two ladies' and gentleman got them board and
told the men TO back away there danger OF the
wheel house dropping on TO us.
We then pulled for the Mississippi, and on arriving
there asked Capt langley for boat assist in saving
the wreck. We took life boat and rowcd /, the pro
pclcr Republic and asked lin 10 take hold OF the wreck
10 which he promptly accedcd. She thcn lowed
into Pigeon Bay where she lies grounded 200 feet from
Tho ahAel. .tal hu.4 ..tF
hour after we abandoned her without any Inconvenience
When the flames discovered, the mott intense
was soa eIn Se S ana
attention paid 10 my repeated appeals TO obey my
orders they would all have been saved. II IL my posi-
tive opinion that not single person would have been
lost, bad they observed presence OF mind. did
q single person drown, looking constantly after the
boat itself and those board II s my imprcssov that
majority lost by the falling OF the forward boat
the early part OF the disaster deny that tho Northern
Indiana was racing at the time; VIC were nearly an hour
behind time when started and running at ord
nary speed We allowed TO carry forty pounds and
In CONCLUSION desire 10 return thanks for and pear
testimony 10 the CALAMITY energy and good behavior Of
my officers and crew likewise TO the noble and ccien,
efforts OF the officers and OF the Mississippi and the
propeller Republic Capts Langley and Weaver did all
IN Their power 10 aid ~ in saving the passengers and 10
Two or ,hree al xcaae, y ,b smes ~ beb 40 nO
know, likewise rendered every assistance In their
know that some were picked mp by these vessels but
Y
Capt. langley, Of the steamer Mississippi, which mr.
rived here this morning. verihcs every particular the
statement made above Mr. wetmore eharacterixes
his Ws conduct a. hercs, noble and cool throughout
Mr.. Marsh the clerk, collecting tickets
in the cabin, and had got near the engine
when he smeh The smoke He went out on
deck and saw smoke issuing from the vicinity Of The
smokeppe, and then The boat Ere He
Immediately infcr med the passenger and told them
prepare themselves There about ITO Zig pas.
sengcrs on board and from two 70 tour life preservers
in each stateroom.
lie immediately after nan down 70 his Office took all
the papers he could g hold Of from bis safe put the trip
sheet IN bis pocket took life preserver and went
The life boats were let down. but the passengers Jumped
into hem IN masses, and swamped them Immediately.
Some would buckle about them the life preserver before
they were blown up, and Jump Those in the after
cstin were forced overheard by the flames, which
driven back by the wind and the panic and Wild excite.
ment is beyond description.
Mr.. Marsh was saved by means ola piece Of saunch.
con, which be seized while noatng in the water His trip
sheet however, was lost and he Is consequently unable
TO give the list or names OF lost
The man whom we stated yesterday having died ater
having been taken on board the Mississippi, named
Pressy.
BY the steward q the Mississippi We learn of two more
fcat rHnLr A~w.