New-York daily tribune., 1856-08-02
THE BURNING OF THE JOHN JAY.

We copy the following from The Albany journal Of
last ev,bpg:
The flames were kept in subjection for little while,
but Il soon became apparent that they could not be
subdued. The boat, when the danger appeared immi.
H. 1T beaded toward the shore IN the neghborhood
OF Garfelds, but it being rocky bottom she struck,
and onven back by the concussion, almost upset
ting by the rebound.
II Was at this time, it is supposed, that those who
were drowned were either thrown or jumped over
board. And those who remained on the boaf-aoout
e, b in number-were in the highest state Of excite
mtnt. The flames were spreading rapidly, and the
pass, ngers rushing in various directions to escape
them. II was impossible TO preserve anything like
oroer; and u DeT ropes had been burned OF, the
boat became ubInrnogeable. A few lesped overheard
with ebss and other OatiDg mIterisl aud were res
cued. The Otherr were taken OIL in small boats. ltS
charged that the officers of the boat behaved badly,
and that the small boat Of the ste was not launched
as il sbou have been. This charge, however, should
Lot be too readily credited
A gentleman who was a passenger in the John Jay
has municated TO The Herald the euejoned inter-
estirg but melancholy statement OF the q saster:
We r, acled Ticoncer via Lake Chsmp]an, a
D m on Iueeday, the 29th Of July. The nu nber o
pa-sepges who left the Champan boat to pa's through
Lake George was larger, by twO'thirds than at any
time before during this tason quenty there was
hot sufcie mmo6ati0n at hand to convey all TO
Like Gt orge Thy stsge four m!es) part were taken
Immediately, the balance remaued for the stages to
return This occupied the better part Of fur hours,
and mary began TO fear we should lot have daylight
10 view the scenOy Of the lake. The Captain Of tue
lost steamer heard say at this time, that his fues
would cboak Up, and he was aGad he shouldn't make
az good time uiual. gentleman who vas talking
with himl-Mr. Sheffield of New Haven, / think-Sil
ttmtnber the conversation. He told the Captain that
an hour two more or less was notbing-that we
should reach Cadwels abundantly early, and that he
had b. tier not crowd biz boat. The reply did not
hear. MIR. S. will coubtless remember it.
We left the foot of Lake George few minutes be-
fore Xix. We went slcng finely for about eight miles
wi en- saw from near the engine room a dense mass
.fs m kp i
after Geek above, with my wife. We Immediately
ran Gown to The fist deck, aud took our position
the extreme after part of the boat AT this time one
of the running that way, said there was
Danger and seized two buckets of water that stood
besr snd stsrt,d for the deck with them. then
raf cd myself upon the outer railing Of the guard, and
looked above, when / saw the famss bursting out.
just at th time the captain came running by where
1 stood. He about six es BIT feet way, then
back again. i turned to my wife TO what effect
this exhibition of fright from the main hope in this
her self pSssessed. She promised TO remain quiet
until procured come life preServer that hung III the
gargway.
they either destroyed by age or from other
caute AT sLy rate the air escaped fast a, / could
Introduce it, 20 bad to depend entirely upon my ab
y TO swim, and Of sourse an4ously watc ed for the
ne ment We sbOud apprt ach the shore We, however,
Kept ON course tear through the water, but not
leadt for the land. heard several voices G. y Stop
hel w " Put er ashore !" but alas who to do it
! will lot stop to detail NY own experience. Suffice ii
that got safely to shore with my WIFE, AS climbed
up the bark was much exhausted that could not
have stretched out my to have saved the dearest
friend OF earth l saw two bodies under the water,
drifting helplessly by, but could not save them
was spared the most haTo@ing sight, while all
wtIe in the watei for after i had jumped from the
b. at sbe passed little heaoland, or point aud from
my potiOn tie struggles Of the suffering were shut
IRON my sight. The boat took fire at or near twenty
minutes after six, and from the time the first smoke
bust out til che lay continued flame from stem to
stem could not have eXceeotd ten minutes. Fortu-
Dately WE were within half uile of country hotel,
kept by Mr.. Garfield, at q place called the Hague.
Your WI excuse my dgr ssDg from the nara
tive to speak of the poole-nesrted inmates Of
c est TO tIy and did her suffering guests Even
their aid gave freely the last rag of upderclothng
az oDy regretted that they could Dot DO more. The
pe,ghbors, / uudertOOd, were equally kind There
as one store in the place, and the owner placed every
tbjDg the en at the service of the hacad passengers
tie TOLD every to he themselves and make out
their own MT moraDdum. / sincerely hope be lost
nothing by his generosity.
We FAD rot 6e.n oI Z at the hotel before they be-
can to brr in the bOoies. 1t not till then that
ony fully appreciated be danger from which they had
escaped
TIE remains of Miss Benshawe, from New Orleans,
were broue bit TO the hotel ard there parts
Of the bodS that retained warmth. Every effort WAS
made by the lades present TO ref uscitate her. b1t II
Was too late She wds beaufhnl creature, just ls
years of age, and the ODly daughter OF parents that
had ayi-hed everything that money cond bIipg upon
Ler education, Which s6e had Just comp eted aud was
mai il this NotIe tip uncer the protection of her
uncle and his wife, j. A. White aDd lady. had OBJ
seved them on the boat before and shortly AFT
stared so happy, cheerful, every thing must have
locke so btautfu to her; she saw her pathway filled
with roses, and troo 30 gaiy along that it seems as
thong eh there could not have been cloud shadowed
up' II the morning OF her life.
MIS- Thwpg, who was lost, was the mother Of a
poble little boy who was travelling with her. They
rode in the coach wi b me from lake to lake. The
I,scL If bp f.l mi Ony
INQUIRE bic age How proudly the fond mother glanced
at L.I doIln boy as be told bis years. gentleman
remsrb I'd that little Walter had file head. We
bope,' ssid tbe cosirg parent, that there's some
thing in it, for have taken great care in his train
"ipgb Too sadly were her words verified. When
the little sufferer had got safe to shore from the wreck,
be raw his helpless tier floating beneath the surface
Of the water he sprang to save her, but was held by
lose whose feeble aims belpess as his own.
He then Bnet upon the stones aud poured forth such
n fo1vCbt payer to God TO his poor mother
but no. her doom scaled, and she is angel
in Heaven Her widowed husband and Crph, C aid
have goi TO th, IL derOa'e hearth, followed by the
ion ans of her who had made their home the happiest
not on earth.
Long after dark, and when four bodies had been
brought IL, there be gan TO be tquires for baggage.
/ Proceeded alone 10 the wreck found one of my
tu ks near the shore but IN close proximity to the
bum ng vessel. drag it up into the woods, but
cCulo get no assistaDct, so left IL 10 find some.
found man who wlir 10 go If ! would pas him
enough; | offered him So and be accepted. When
We reached the place had left il in, there was haf
dozen human sfaIks tbat closed uod me, each aud
al canUrous for remuneration, sayirs "they had
cr8ge,d 1t from the sb"rt," " that 1t would have
been burnt but tor THE, &C. They had great pile
Of siawls bOnntts, bags, parasos hats, canes, g,
which tbey were pulne over much as one OF our New
FOX rag piokcis would examine pile oi rubbish
thrown into The street.
The buiiiDg wreck lay roaring within few yards,
and many thought ber Boilers NUT explode. What
rod tl.A yrlfu Nou