The Nevada Democrat., 1856-11-04
burning Of the Nlagara.


The Chicago Tribune gives the following de-
tails of the burning of the steamer Niagara,
which occurred on Lake Michigan, Sept. 9th.
The Niagara left Collingwood on Monday af-
ternoon at z o'clock ia place OF the Keystone
State the regular steamer for that day. Sae
started with from Oae hundred and fifty to oae
hundred aad seventy-iiye passeage twenty-five
or thirty Of whom snc landed at SlebOyga.l, the
greatest portion of whom were steerage passen-
gers. AT about O'clock Z. NJ. of Wednesday
the Niagara left Saeboygan, aAd about two
hours afterwards was discovered to he Oh fire.
When tue fire was first discovered there was but
little sea OIL, aad the wind was about southeast
and light. At tnis time the Niagara was from
three to four miles oil North Point Washington,
and some ten miles or more this side OF SheDoy-
gan As soon as the fire was discovered, Gap
tain Miller, who was asleep, was called, and the
steam pumps put to work.
few moments after this the passengers be-
came aware that the boat was ON fire, and
scene ensued which, said passenger, "beggars
all escriptlon-cOnsternation seized upon al
most every one, and men, women ana children
rushed to and fro about the boat, shouting aud
crying. Not half dozen passengers gave any
aid to the crew. aid but few attempted TO make
provision for their own or friends escape. 1t
was but short time from the first discovery OF
the fire until the whole upper cabin was in
flames. During this time large number of
passengers had jumped overheard without any
thing to support them in the water, and IN atew
moments sunk Mothers threw their children
into tile lake and wildly sprang after them
The water was intensely cold, aud none but the
hardest persons could live in it but few mo-
nients. A large number of passengers, before
the steamer stopped in spite of the appeals Of
the mate, got Into the stern boat and lowered
it, when it instantly swamped, and all in it
were drowned Another portion of the passcn-
gers filled the starboard quarter-boat, and low
cred that also, and all found a watery grave.
Before the upper cabin was in flames, a por-
tioa of the more self-pOssessed of the passengers
wrenched the state room doors Off, and threw
them into the water together with tables,
chairs, stools, &c., aid upoI these many Of those
in the water saved themselves. After it had be-
come useless to remain on board any loager,
the second engineer, carpenter, ald u portion
of the crew, together with Il number Of passed.
gers twenty-five persons in ALL lowered away
the arboard quarter boat, aAd pulled to the
shore, where the passengers were landed, and
the crew returned with the boat to render any
assistance they might be able. Capt. Miller,
with number of others, saved themselves by
rlingjng to the wheel, aLd were picked up by
the boats.
There were over three hundred lifc-prescrvcrs
on the Niagara. VIII .ch. together with life stools
and floats woud be sufficient if properly used.
for the temporary safety Of nearly five hundred
persons. Captain VI Her informed Mr. Wheeler
however, that he d d not think half dozen lilc-
preservers or stools had been put in requistion
by the passengers great was their terror and
haste to jump overheard.