New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-01
2UREING OF THE NIAGARA.
FrRTHER DETAILS.

Inc t'D.,,. % he disaster engaged in saving hr
reached this port yesterday bringing 'n.ee persons
s.ved alive and one dead body. VI the tnre saveS
M A A. Mckay is The only one We S Sn.t from the
Groyer IN nearly exhausted state, aud was iastnS.o
for three hours after reaching the schocn,I ne ~
that Mr. NJ j. Clark. the steward. ana M nev' .Ho
clerk were rear him in the water, each ns'lns ~
float and that when be last saw them they "e'e a..
most exhausted and apparently making but niue elo'
TO save Themselves. He thinks they both pe'ished as
the water was intensely cold and they did nO'
20 know how manage their floats 20 as ~ hec ''''
heads above water.
Upon the BODY Of the drowned man was found
cabin ticket Of the Niagara. marked Atwood ana
wife and on the margin Of the ticket, = morse l
wagon" In his pocket found blank DOCK upon
the cover OF which written IN INK Alinon AZ
wood, Charlotte, VI In this book were notes OF
the trip, in pencil. When Atwood was picked up. ne
was still alive, but all efforts 20 restore him were van
and he expired soon after being taken aboard the
schooner. The blank book alluded 10 is in possession
of Coroner Beach of this city.
The Niagara was worth. it is supposed about
$1,000, and L. VT believe, fully insured. Her cargo
was very valuable one consisting mostly Of mer-
chandise, among which were 80 packages of dry
goods. 1t will prove total loss.
LETTER FROM CAPT MILLER
To THE PvBLIc.-Slnce my arrival st Chicago, |
have frequently been asked about al anponymous let
ter which was found by the steward in his Office after
the Niagara left Collngwood her last trip but one
and III order to give the whole matter Ia the public
now write this communication.
The Green Bay boats running between Collingwood
and Green Bay and could not be depended on aud
therefore the passengers bound 10 Green Bay were fire.
Cueuty obliged 10 take passage on tie Chicago boats
but with the understanding that if they got of at Mack
insc that there would be g 30 refunded to them on
their delivering up their tickets 70 Green Bay they
would be landed mt port the shore AXE
Michigan but no money refunded. This. il appears
created great deal of dissatisfaction with those people
who did not understand steamboat matters, ana have
frequently been asked if We could not act rs agents
end forw ard them the place 10 which they had pad
10 go. Nv answer has always been that We only
pad servants and had To 20 10y instructions, &c. but
rs il usually the in such matters there would be
a great deal OF grumblng, and superstition on the
,art of those grumbng that il the officers of the
steamer who were irving TO delraud them and that it
WAS intentional the part OF the whole line; but those
who really understood the matter OF course never at
tached any blame 10 the Chicago line
Tie rip before last, on leaving CoillngWood, we hai
quite number of those dsahected enes, and while
living at the cock the stew ard Mr.. CLARK found in his
room on his deck the following letter, and handed it
10
LOOK Save Yourself the boat will b. burned tonight
70 take care of ourselves. (Sisucd) APASSENGER
Immediately called the engineer, Mr. Leonard into
my room. showed him the letter and also Capt. Dick,
OF the lower lake steamer Peerless when after con-
sultation We concluded 10 set strict watch, but yet
without showing any signs of alarm. My wheelsmen
were constantly travelling around the boat, but saw
nothing that would lead them to suspect any person.
Ever fear therefore died away and we thought moth
ing further of the matter.
Now | am confident tina. the boat did not take fire
frcm the machinery. from the boilers as every
portion of her freehold was tirepoof. My opinion is.
that the fire caused by some com0ustloie material
slowed under the shafts but the nature oil which we
were unable to tell packages frequently come ST.
disguised that We canpOt tell what they are-but II
must have been something OF that kind, from the tact
that ii envelOped the boat in flames almost Instantly
and when first discovered 1t was impossible to SUD
due it,
I cannot nj present write more. AZ | am on the
eve of leaving the city to return to the wreck nor do
think more is necessary.
FRED MILLER, Late Master Steamer Niagara
STATEMENT or GAIT. MITCHELL.
The following If the statement OF Capt. w lllianl
Mitchell of the schooner Mary Grover, given before
tie inquest held in this city upon the body of Anou
\ wood:
Niagara about O'Clock, near as could tell; the
schooner Dan. Marble had been there four or fy,
| minutes when came; her boats were busy saving
az, lowered our boat @rd assisted all we could
our bOnt left the vessel nd went 10 the steamer.
| soon caae back with DGr men in ii; two Of the mel
! ;oere alive and one mas dead; Atwood was barely
nliye when he was brought on deck; he dice
| soon after; he WA clingng TO plank when he
| wa, found in the water; We were eight miles from
The steamer when we discovered she HaS on re and
Immediately made every effort TO reach her a speedily
IA possible; We full hour going 10 her We
picked up q fireman from the steamer, who hoated
near The vessel; we saved eleven persons and two
deGd bodies; | threw line to two persons who came
near the vessel but they too much exhausted to
seize IT, and sank | do not know the names OF those
We saved: we at the wreck five and half hours
one person saved was fireman, one waiter anu
one a passenger who going to Peoria
The wife of Mr.. Atwood was buried at Port Wash
ipeton, and some money was found upon her person
Mr. Atwood will be buried here to-day. silver
watch and pair of spcctacles were found upon him
and are now in possession of the Coroner. lie ap-
poared to BE- about sixty years of qge