Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-07-24
Further Particulars of the Burning of the
Northern Indiana.

NCIT06Tn 1UQ1dQd.
When of Point Pelee and from seven to ten
miles from shore, the Inflated steamer was dis
covered to be on fire, volumes of smoke appear
ing in the fire hold.
Notice of this was promptly given to the en-.
CINE room, but Immediately the flames burst out
on the main deck around the steam chinlReys,
and also about the bul-heads Of the engine. InI
moment more they had to run up,into the cabin.
The woodwork of the cabin and engine room
burned like finder. In very short time from
the first discovery of the fire, the steamer, her
whole width in the vicinity of the middle gang
way, was IN blaze. The wheelsman-who,t to
his credit be it said, stood manfally to his post
while his services were needed-immediately
headed her for the shore. some seven miles, we
believe, distant, but, before going great dis
lance, her engine stopped working The flames
spread rapidly aft, driving those on that portion
OF the steamer to the necessity of jumping into
the lake. The flames extended forward more
slowly. A boat on her bow was got ready, but
as she was cleared from the deck preparatory
to being let bown, it was filed full of fright
ened persons that it broke loose from the crane,
precipitating them into the water, and then fall
ing onto them, causing, probably, all of them to
lose their lives. 1t is said that, among those
who hurried into this boat, there were several
of the crew.
Capt. Pheatt, the commander of the North
ern Indiana, was not on board, b eing detained
at Buffalo by illness. The first mate, w. H.
Wetmore, had command, and proved himself
eminently worthy of the trust confded to him
acting judiciously and bravely, and being the
last TO leave the burning vessel. The second
mate, the first and second engineers and others
oil the officers and the crew, did everything IN
their power to assist the passengers.
The steamer Mississippi was about five miles
| astern, and the propeller Republic at greater
distance, and schooner very near along side
Capt. Langley, of the Mississippi immediate
ly headed towards the Indiana and made all
possible speed to get to her assistance. He had
seven small boats ready to shove off, the gang
| plank of the steamer run out, &c. He APP
preached within about three hundred feet of the
| Northern Indiana, and sent his boats, manned
by the crew and some of the passengers of the
Mississippi, to take off those persons remaining
on the burning steamer, picking up, as they
went along, many in the water. 1t is supposed
that no one was burned to death on board the
unfortunate vessel. The propeller Republic and
two or three sail vessels, also FASTENED to the
relief of those on the Northern Indiana-all do
ing everything in their power to aid them. Ey-
cry person floating i'll the water was picked up
| as promptly as possible.
The engine ran for ten or fifteen minutes, car
rying the burning boat rapidly away from the
schooner, aud making it the more difficult for
the Mississippi to come to her relief.
The mate as soon as he saw passengers jump
ing overheard, gave orders to the crew about
him to spring to the hurricane deck and throw
over the life preservers slowed there. They
consisted of pieces of plank, with two ropes at
tached to each. About thirty Of them were
thrown over when the flames rendered it impos-
sible to get any more The mate then procured
a dozen axes, and distributing them, called on
the men to cut down doors and everything they
could, forward the fire, and throw it into the
water for floats. The mate, Wetmore, worked
with all his might and acted with great presence
of mind
Among the persons at the bow Of the North
ern Indiana was an Irish woman named Bridget
Glynn, with four children, one an infant at the
| breast, the oldest about six years old. She re-
manned on the deck as long as she could, and
then throwing the Oldest child INTO the water,
| with one in her arms, and two ciuging to her
dress, she jumped into the water, where she
/ recovered the first and clinched all her children
together. They were immediately seized by
those in of the small boats and all five saved
alive.
DIR. l. H. Coy of Greenburg, sheboygan
County, Wisconsin, was on board with his wife
and little son, about four years of age lie was
unable to get the cork from his life preserver Sc
that he might initiate it. He procured life-pre-
server for his wife, but it was rendered worth
to the water by rope, and with his boy in his
arms leaped overheard himself His boy grasp
cd him tightly around the throat, choking him
and pull ling him under water Feeling that he
could not save both, by violent effort he 10 os-
ened his sons arms from his neck, and the little
fellow sank to rise more The mother and
father were saved, but with saddened hearts.
I young girl of fifteen Miss Caroline Turner
Of Rome, Me, was saved alonei her father, moth
or and brother being among tn lost
Among those who were saved was an infant
but a few weeks old who was thrown from the
Northern Indiana and caught safely in the arms
of one of the boats crew.
Harriet Aikroyd, from Eng land lost her IA
Their, mother, husband and two children and all
her means
When all were picked up who could be found
and were safe on board the Mississippi, a meet
ing was held in the after cabin, of the survivors
and passen gers on the Mississippi. commit
tee was app onted to draft resolutions express
sve OF gratitude for their preservation, and rem
dering tribute Of thanks to Capt Langley, of
the Mississippi for his noble conduct through
out the trying scene, and to the ladies of the
Mississippi for their sympathy and attention to
the sufferers.
p A collection Of about $500 was taken up on
board for the purpose Of aiding the needy suffer
ers to reach their respective destinations.
The number OF passengers on board the North
ern Indiana, including passengers and crew, is
supposed to have been about l60 About thirty
did not save their baggage. No freight was
saved. The books and papers of the boat are
also lost.
Z The huh of the steamer was towed by the
propeller Republic, to reef near the spot where
the May Eio,oer lay.
1t is probable that the fire was not known to
any one on the boat many minutes before it was
known to all The first alarm in the cabin was
given by some one OF the boatmen coming up
from below ana speaking to the officers taking
tickets.
In Detroit, the sufferers were received with
the utmost hospitality and the Superintendent
OF the Michigan Central Railroad brought them
to this city free. GEO NJ. GRAY, Esq, Agent
ofthe NJ. 5. and N. l. r. r., W as not behind in
generous deeds, making restitution Of the value
oflost baggage to those w no were in crcumstan
ces to need it, upon their own representation.
/ As to the scenes upon the burning steamer
the alarm, the anguish and despair, there is
much in the columns Of some of our cotempor
aries, but we notice that those who know the
most about it, say the least There are some
passages in human life, and that was one of them
that cannot be described in words
! May it never be our Office again to record
such an incident, and the Sun beneath whose
blaze, old Erie grows azure and lovely as Hea
ven, never look down upon a floating pyre sc
gorgeous and so sad as the NORTHERN INDI
Ana Chicago Journal.
/ NEW YORK, July 10.
/ A destructive fire occurred in Forman ST.. Brook
yn early this morning, burning naval store depot
/ owned and occupied by Seth IL. Robins 4 lnrFC