Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-08-09
THE BURNING or the JOHN JAY.

we nave some IuTIner .phTtlCulurS VI tHh
sad disaster on Lake George. A gentleman
who left Caldwell says that it had been ascer-
tanned that at least fifteen are dead or mis- :
sing. The wife of Mr. Il Belknap, banker,
Wall street, lost her life slso her sister,
Mrs. Thwing, wife of S. 9. Thwing Esq, of
Roxbnry, Mass. Both Of these ladies are
daughters of Thomas Havens, Esq, OF Pha-
delphia.
A gentleman who was passenger in the
John Jay has communicated to the Herald
the subioined interesting, but melancholy
statement of the disasters
We reached Tinconderago via of Lake
Champlain at ?. NJ, on Tuesday the of Ju-
". The number Of passengers who lett the
Champlain boat to pass through Lake George
was larger, by two thirds, than at any time
before during this season, consequently there
there was not sufficient accommodation at
hand to convey all to Lake George (by stage
four miles part were taken immediately,
the balance remained for the stages to return
This occupied the better part of four hours,
and many began to fear we should not have
daylight to view the scenery OF the lake,
The captain of the lost steamer, | heard say
at this time, thought his fues would choke mp
and he was afraid he shouldn't make as good
time as ususl. A gentleman who was talk
ing with him-Mr Sheffield, of New Haven,
}. ] think-will remember the conversation
He told the captain that an hour or two more
or less was nothing-that we should reach
Caldwels abundantly early, and that he had
better not crowd his boat. The reply did
not hear. Mr.. Sheffield will doubtless re-
member it.
We left the foot of Lake George a few mi
nutes before six. We went along finely for
about eight miles, when | saw from near the
engine room q dense mass of smoke puff ont,
then another | was sitting on the after
deck, above. with my wife. We Immediately
ran down to the first deck and took our posi-
! tion on the extreme after part of the boat
! At this time one of the crew came running
that way, said there was no danger, and seiz-
ed two buckets of water that stood near and
started for the deck with them. / then raj
sed myself upon the outer railing Of the guard
and looked above. when / saw the flames
bursting out. Just at this time the captain
'cdfne running by where stood. He ran
about six or eight feet one way, then back
agtiin. | turned to my wife to see what ef-
feet this exhibition of fright from the main
hope in this desperate emergency would have,
when found her self-possessed. She prom
ised to remain quiet until procured some
life preservers that he saw hanging in the
gargway.
INhen tried to initiate them found them
usefes; they were either destroyed by age or
from some other cause AT any rate the air
escaped as fast as | could introduce it. so |
had to depend entirely upon my ability to
swim, and of course anxiously watched for
the moment when we should approach the
shore. We, however, kept on our course,
tearing through the water, but not headed
for The land. | heard several voices cry,
"Stop her !" "Put her ashore !" but alas who
i, - II 10 lntn
own experience. Suffice it that got safely
TO shore with my wife. AS ] climbed up the
bank | was so much exhausted that l could
not have stretched out my arm to have saved
the dear, st friend on earth | saw two bodies
under the water. drifting helplessly by but l
could Eot save them.
l was spared the most narrowing sight,
while all were in the water for alter had
jumped from the boat she passed little head
long or point, and from my position the strug-
giles ofthe suffering re shut from my sight.
The boat took fire at or near twenty minute s
after six and from the time the first smoke
burst oat till she lay a continued fame from
stem to stern, could not have exceeded ten
minutes. Fortunately we we're within half a
mile of a country hotel kept By Mr.. Garfield,
at place called the Hague. Your readers
will excuse my Distressing from the narrative,
to speak word Of the noble hearted inmates
of that house. They opened every room,
closes and chest, to try and aid their suffering
guests. Even their maids gave freely the
last rag Of under clothing, and only regretted
that they could not do more The neghbors
/ understood. we're equally kind. There was
one store IN the place, and the owner placed
every thing theceing at the service Of the half
clad passengers lie told every one TO help
themselves and make out their own memor-
andum sincerely hope he lost nothing by
his generosity.
We had not been long at the hotel before
they began to bring in the dead bodies. 1t
was not till then that any fully appreciated
the danger from which they had escaped.
The remains of Miss Renshaw, from New
Orleans. we're brought to the hotel, and there
were some part of the body that retained
warmth. Every effort was made by the ladies
present TO resuscitate her, but it was too late.
She was beautiful creature, just Is years of
age, and the Only daughter of parents that
had lavished everything that money could
bring upon her education, which she had Just
completed, and was making this northern trip
under the protection Of her uncle aud his wife
j. A White and lady. / had observed them
on the boat before and shortly alter we star
ted, so happy SO cheerful, everything must
have looked so beautiful to her. she saw her
pathway filled with roses. and trOd so gaily
along that it seems as though there could not
have been cloud shadowed upon the morn
ing Of her life.
Mrs. Thwing and her sister. Mrs. Belknap
Of New York, each was advised to take a
chair and jump overheard, in the hope that
the chair would sustain them uutil assistance
could be rendered. Mr. Thwing took his lit
tie boy inf his arms and jumped over and by
great effort succeeded in getting to the shore
and landing him on the rocks. He then went
back for his wife, but she was not to be found
MIR. Pritchard supported his wife in his arms
until they were picked up. She had sunk
twice, and he was nearly exhausted before as
sistance reached them. Miss Gore, another
of the party swan to shore Miss X Kent hoa-
ted on the water until she was picked up
The bodies of those who were lost were found
within an hour and three quarters after the
accident.
Mrs. Thwing was the mother of noble
little boy who was travelling with her They
rode in the coach with me from lake to lake.
The bright sayings of the dear little fellow
made many inquire his age. How proud y
tih9 fond mother glanced at her darling boy
ha told his pears A rama arka ka1