Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1856-10-02
Burning Of Steamer " Niagara J"
Further Particulars

EurCnST fartlCularS.
We take the following additional
news and statements relative to this
most terrible disaster, from the Sentinel
Of Friday: ..a. .a..
Below we give the statement of Mr..
G. ID. WEsTBRooK, of Green Bay, who
is among the saved. He says:
| was in the after saloon at about 4
p NJ, when the cry of ''Firew was
made, and ] saw the flames bursting out
from the lining to the engine room. |
went forward Immediately. Saw there
Mr.. John b. Macy, who was much eX
cited. Heard him say, eve are lost!"
Mr.. Macy went aft and l saw him no
more, think he is lost. A friend who
was with me, L. Mattice, Engineer on
the Fox River Improvement, had his
wife and two children with him. He
went to look after them, l suppose that
they are all lost. g..
The man at the wheel called for help,
and went up to the wheel house and
helped head the boat towards shore
We were two or three miles out, and
about four North Of Port Washington,
the wind blowing fresh down the Lake.
The engine stopped in about minutes
after the boat was headed for shore, and
the boat dritted rapidly. | went back
to the deck and got plank, and took ii
aft of the wheel, and chung to the boat
till very soon driven away by the flames.
About 30 Of the crew and passengers
got off on planks from the forward deck
and the boat soon drifted away from
them. They were probably all picked
up by the boats from the vessels which
had come to our assistance. A boat
put off from the stern with % persons
on board. In this boat were several
children, thrown in just as she put off.
The life-boat was thrown into the wa
ter from the deck, and upset. A crowd
Of people jumped for it and it rolled oy-
er, all being drowned except or 5 who
chung to the bottom of the boat. These
were taken up by boats from the steam
or IfUcelley.
Ropes were attached to the guards
aft, and let down, and large number
of persons, mostly women and children,
slid down the ropes and hung there in
clusters, clinging to each other, till the
ropes were burned off, and all were
drowned, as L believe. A spar was
passed i'll among them when they fell
into the water, but none of them sliced
it.
After the flames came so near that
could not stay on board, | threw my
plank into the water, and jumped for it,
but several others Immediately jumped
into the water and struggled for the
plank, and left it and swan away till
| reached a cabin door, upon which |
got back to the side of the steamer and
got hold of the supports to the guards.
l was there with Capt. Miller, when the
rope gave way and let the women into
the water. He passed spars among
them. We soon after went into the
wheel, from whence we were taken by
the IraUelier's boats.
Capt. Sweeney, of the Traveller, de-
serves great credit for his despatch in
getting to us, and his energy in saving
me, and kindness to the half naked and
benumbed passengers. He furnished
many with clothing; and acted manly
part every way. His boat was at Port
Ullao, 10 miles off, wooding, bound
South, and with steam down. He and
his men got up steam rs rapidly as pos
sible, and turned about. to our help.
] think that number Of the people
saved by the vessels went aboard the
Propeller Illinois. There were about
IS Of the crew and walters, so cabin and
20 steerage passengers. We could only
make out that Sc were saved. The
clerk is among those lost, l believe
1t did not seem more than Is or 90
minutes from the time the flames burst
out, until every soul had left the boat.
While / was clinging to the guard, n
child floated near, whom | picked up
and held till the women and other pas
sengers fell into the water, and were
struggling around me, so that | had to
let the child 90. | saw none of the Off
GERS except Capt Miller, and him only
after | got back to the boat. There
were several explosions before we left,
which the Capt. thought were ofpowder
smuggled on board, and many reports
of pistols. One gentleman, Mr. IL.
Ainsworth, of Vermont, who was saved,
lost all of his family, including several
ladies and children, and large amount
of property.
Wecopy the following from the VS.
eonsip OF last evening.
Mr.. AINswoRTH's STATEMENT.
Mr. HARVEY AINswoRTH, from Royal
ton, Windsor Co., Vermont, was aboard
with his wife, three children, father, and
sister-in-law, with a child. He alone of
all the party was saved. They were on
their way to Baraboo, in this State, near
which place he had purchased far
last spring and was ON his way to set
Mr.. a. was standing alone near the