Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-07-31
NUMBER IL.
Burning of the North ern Indiana


sipp, is one hundred and forty-two.
The following persons are known to be
lost
Sewell Turner and Daniel Gray, Of Rome,
Maine Michael Burke and Thomas Farie, of
Buffalo; Mrs. Eliza blanchard, of Augusta,
Maine; Henry Minis and child, of Tully, New
York Augustine Pislvalle. Of Buffalo George
Dawson, of Brockport, New York; Mrs. Mary
Ladavard, Of England Mrs. Mary Ackreyds,
her father, mother, husband and two children,
Of England G. Smith, of Buffalo Eugene Gary
and child, Of Greenbush, Wisconsin Miss Jen-
nings. Of Wayerly, Illinois Hezekiah Thomas,
Of Buffalo Nicholas Commerford, of Rochester
lady and child, of Louisville three coal
beavers. deck hand and a child.
Its feared that more than these have been
lost.
The Captain Of the Republic thinks none
were saved except those on boari his own
vessel and the Mississippi.
Our citizens held meeting last night and
raised $500 for the sufferers, and several
more hundred was raised for them to-day.
Every attention is paid to them. Free rail-
road and steamboat passes are furnished them,
and the hotels and the telegraph are also free
TO them.
The Northern Indiana was valued at
$4,000.
No insurance. The hull will be saved.
Captain W. III. Wetmore, of the Northern
Indiana relates the story of the disaster,
from which we make extracts
The crew numbered between fifty and sixty.
Nothing occurred of any Importance until about
ten minutes past eleven on Thursday morning,
when We were about half way between Point au
D.l.- D. A Il sol.a
was on deck by the pilot house. The engineer
sent man on deck, and said he wanted me
below. L supposed at the time there was some
difficulty with the men. | ran below as fast as
| could it being an uncommon thing to leave
the deck when outside even for meals; when
got below, the first en- gineer Farrar, was getting
the hose ready in the fire engine. He said. Mr..
Wcsfmore. my God, she's afire. There was a
round hole usually covered with plate OF iron
which was off, between the engine room and the
smoke pipe on the starboard side. ! cast my
eye there; and saw light something like the
reflection of a common lamp underneath the
main deck. turned and ran to call the men; L
pissed some on deck, and told them to run to
the engine.
The Captain assured the passengers and
the crew that he could save them il they
would take his advice aud after he had in
duced them TO carry safety rlanks he re-
marks:
81 seized an axe and called upon the rest TO
assist me in cutting away the doors and panel
work about the cabin, the engineer and second
mate assisting me. After cutting all the panel
work away which We could reach, ON account OF
the fire, aud passing them to passengers, we
rushed into the cabin and hauled out the dining
tables forward. We then spread these tables
out full length and dropped them overheard,
bottom side mp. and then brought side tables,
sofas, big chairs, &C., from the cabin, all oil
which we threw overheard 10 the passengers In
the water BY this time the steamer had
stopped. Could not tell exactly when she did
stop, but am confident she did not rnn over a
mile from the time the Gre was first discovered.
After getting all out OF the cabin we could.
we commenced cutting the tenders away, and
telling men to get on them. After cutting and
getting away everything that was possible to
get at, went forward on the promenade deck.
The engineers and second mate and wheelsman
went below on the forecastle deck and COM
menccd passing everythiug ont ofthe forecastle
deck, boards, mattresses, stairway, rigging
BOXES, etc. l saw them passing them out. Al
that time one OF the passengers called my atten-
ton 10 one of the broken crane stanchioDs, and
we tried TO get il out but did not succeed.
went down to the forecaslle and took the axe and
succeeded in cutting it of. Passed up the axe
To the passenger. as We wished to keep it with
us, and as getting up, woman came to
me saving 81 am alone with four small chill.
Jren" lone of which sho held in her arms.)
san, 10 her. give me the child and will save il
| ii 1 get ashore. passed it up 10 my friend on
deck, the passenger, and followed it. heard
the women calling after me and looked back
and she passed me the other three OF her chill
drsn. Soon after another women passed up on'
about six months old.
Previous To this ibe Mississippi, which, wheT
the fire broke out. thosght 20 be tive or 81,
miles astern, had been engaged. and 10y thii
time had picked Up the most of those IN Tho
water. By this time her boats aud those Of thu
Republic came alongside To pick them OF tbs
burning steamer The boats were full OF life
, buoys aud those on board the boats kept telling
! the passengers to Jump into the water. Many
I and especially the women, were afraid To do this
! A passenger said to me, take this child ana
will 90 and push them overheard. took The
child, and then had one IN each arm, and thre'
| besides hanging 10 me- The passenger sue
eeeded in getting of these women and som'
j men in the water and then lowered the chill
! drcn avs ay 10 them by the heayipg line Ther
nu friend, the passenger, went iDlo The boat
! and was the last Ipan with me on board ih'
! steamer | was the last person who left her
Previous TO leaving her, walked eli from ili
| teen To twenty feet from the stern, and stood
! there "A moment without experiencing any IN
congenience from the flames.
| At the conclusion of his narrative, be oh
serves:
From the time the steamer caught fire unit
/ she rs entirely abandoned, i should think q
WAS from an hour 10 an hour and n quarter.
I think | could have remained on her a half al
hour longer. when We left her. without muel
! Inconvenience from the flames. When th'
! flames were discovered, the utmost panic tool
possession of most OF the passengers. and II wa
| impossible 10 maintain any kind oi order
They paid no attention to my frequent appeals
although ! repeatedly assured them that al
could be saved il they would only obey orders
Ii is my positive opinion that not single persoi
! forward of The wheel. however would have beer
i lost had they been in a eolfitlon 10 know wha
! they were about. did not sac single persol
drown, but / was too constantly engaged Il
( look after the people in the water. sly impres
/ sions is. that mol more than t~ehiy person
were lost. and those We're principally iron IN
! forward boat, which fell from the cranes In TIN
early part of the disaster.
AS there is a report that the Northern lndi
/ ana was racing at the lime, desire to say ina
such was not the case. We lett nearly an hou
behind time, and no extraordinary exertioi
was made. 1 saw tho engine from half pas
seven TO eight o'clock in the morning before tn
| fire We then had twenty y-sesen pounds O
steam upon her. We are allowed 10 carry fort,
pounds. can positively assert that 40 dispo
/, sition t0 race was manifested.
/ The Democracy at Washington Cit,
CONFIDENT Of Success 80 Good New
| From Rhode Island.
We take the following gratifying intelli
gence from the correspondence Of the Phila
delphis Pemsylcdnian
"WAsHISGroS, Juiy -.
CA caucus OF Democratic Senators aud mem
bers Of Congress was held in the Senate Cham
Der on Wednesday evening, and was largel,
attended. The cbject and purpose of the meet
ing was to compare notes, and general con
sultation as 10 what was necessary in variou
4 States TO ensure success, and how matter