The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-10-01
artlculars and IT. cldents Connected with the
burning OF thu Steamer Niagara, ON Lake

artlculars and II cldents Connected with the
burning Of the Steamer Niagara, ON Lake
Fro n the Chicago Press, Sept 2el
S oOo0' sn
r le Inn ossble TO get their names Several sal
'sse came promptly to the assistance Of the Niagara
Port Washington promptly hand and rendered
timely aid. 1t 10 impossible to tell how the fire origna
Ter, che completely enveoped in q cloud OF smoke
The fire appeared to burst out forward OF the wheel
the starboard side The first Engineer was not board
From all the facts that could be learned Of the
were saved.
J. r. Allen, of Concord, N. H., who was q passeger
The regular boat the Keystone State did not leave
usual owing TO her having been badly damaged by the
day. at O'Clock with from l5S to lis passengers She
proceeded far Sheboygan and left there twenty
passengers, principally Storage
The boat left Sheboygan ut about O'Clock and abou!
two hours afterwards while four five miles of Port
Washington, fire discovered by passengers in the
cabin proceeding from the engine room. The alarm
instantly given by the passengers but such CONSERVATION
seized every one that no efforts emed TO be made TO
NsSe 'n casn VS. in amss lew s sae
at the time in his cabin having been up all the night
FORE He was Immediately awakened and rushed out on
deck
Attempts were made to use the hose but II was found
TO be useless Several Of the passengers after recovering
their presence of mind what, began break down
the doors other wooden work and throw over
board. The two boats upon the hurricane deck were
Immediately orde red 10 be lowered but in the excite
ment and confusion they were thrown overheard and
meoiateiy capsized, and were rendered useless.
The stern and quarter boats were lowered and all cap
sized but into which about 20 passengers got in and
were saved Large numbers OF the passengers, para
yzed with fear at the first announcement OF the fire,
theirs thre their children overheard and then wildly
jumped themselves Every one seemed perfectly insane
with fear, and threw themselves who the slight
est attempts TO save themselves.
In regard to the origin of the fire, nothing definite Is
known but all OF the that have agree the
statement that the flames first the after hatch
from the freight hold and from
CINE room. From that il would seem that the IRE pro
ceeded from something combusble among the freight
was set in that hold by design.
story is told, but with what amount Of truth
unable TO decide, that the captain apprised some
time ago that an attempt would be made this trip to burn
his vessel Captain Miller had not to this city yes
to-day having remained a 0zaukee but Is expected here
five miles from shore and about the same distance from
0zaukee port Wasbngton), when the fire broke out 1t
nearly hour before assistance reached them The
schooner Dan Marble with her boats, picked up num-
Der OF persons 10 the water.
The greatest heroism displayed on the occasion of
which We have any knowedge was shown by mother
in her efforts to the lives OF her eight children the
eldest OF whom ly onrteen and the youngest
year old She was picked up BY the Traveller, insens
BILE and nearly pershed but restored by great
tons and brought to this city she did not know last
evening whether not OF her children saved
that pulled OF from the burning steamer. so they will
reach her this morning by the Arctic She and her hus
band are ut the Merchants Hotel
The nance OF these afflicted parents are Mr.. and Mrs.
Hamilton Chalmers, Of Gloucester county New Bruins
wick Tbey'had, by great industry and economy, laid
upa few hundred dollars and were moving TO Minnesota
to buy small farm and lost everything they had In the
world the boat but few shilngs in their pockets
But they ay they nothing for that If they had
their children they could begin life again at the bottom
the ladder with good heart We sincerely hope that
some ortheir lost ones may be restored to them Mrs.
Chalmers says that when the fire broke she out
81 e the seerage cabin the main deck with her hus
band and children. She saw the sern boat lowered and
observing in IL woman whom she knew she thought II
the boat reached the shore and she herself did that
woman would be like q mother TO her children so she
commenced throwing her smaller children INTO It. IN.
support in the water than the others she had thrown
two into tho boat when i showed OF she had one in
her hants 10 throw, but too late to throw large
to the boat accordingly she seized the baby, sup
posing she had strength to throw il 70 me rcireaDg beat
She had not however-the baby fell into the water a
loot from the boat She screamed to the woman the
boat 10 save It, and had the satisfaction OF seeing her
reach out grasp It. and draw il into the boat.
She then directed her efforts 10 the five children about
her. She pushed the oldest boy, of twelve years into
the water with directions to swim after the small boat
and cling to If they would not take him in She tn lks
he old actually reach IT, but cannot be certain She then
put her oldest child girl OF fourteen, INTO the water Ia
,pes she could cling 20 something she has heard sincs
thinks II may be this She then had three small chill
drep remaining Her husband got into the water and
she passed them down 10 bn and he placed them on one
the cspsized boats floating She then go. down
by rope On reaching the water she found the waves
had washed two OF the children OIL the small She
managed 20 catch them both with one arm and held them
W, still clrgirg 10 the rope with the other hand and
maintaining her hold In the MIDST Of all the desperate
struggles around her. AT last the rope burned OF above
and she sank down, down, down, with others who had
been clinfing to the same rope. When she came up
again she had lost child She managed 10 throw Der
oisengaged sick and hang 70 II, with the
child IN the other
she then looked for the child she had Lost but although
many heads around her and some o. them Guild.
rens heads, they al begtmed with the oil and
ashes and 200, the surface OF the water that she could
not distinguish their features ana they sunk after
another, without her being able 10 recognize her
she then directed al her efforts 10 in
arms and she feels tnat she could have done So
rus mar ne hp IN man tllsIh
arm on from toe siick which supported her She regsned
her hold and her haDd again pslled OF and herself
push cd away by the Then abe sunk down, down,
down again She struggled 10 rise, and finally did rise,
but the last child gone, though she thought until she
reached the susce AID saw 10 the contrary that she Lad
Il stu n her arms,
Sic Then alone the water without support Sac
had Loacd some distance away from the steamer bat
etc her husband upon the capszcd boat holding ono
Of the children That sight Inspired her With fresh Gour.
,ge. Alas she knew not at that moment that the little
one he fed in bis arms was alresdy lifeles, bat il
was even 80. AT that instant q plank struck her
breast, sne threw her arms around I and tried
70 reach her husband, but could not prope her.
self In the water She felt her strength ap.y fail.
ing She entirely alone; she the schooner an
the Traveller but alss that they far, far away:
che knew che could not hold en- 70 her buoy Until they
came up but she remembered having hoard that per
sons In drowning always shut their teeth frm She
therefore, seized her dress Of the bottom fron brought
around toe plank and put between her teeth
~ held tie plank fast across her breast she found Il
would support Der thus, aud settled calmly back await
the result she remembered nothing more: sLs vas
picked 10 BY the llaveier aud when she restored
20 enscousness had the happiness Of andluy her has
band At her side fut her children whe we're theyg
The presence Of mind and herosm this poor mother
displayed under tbe circumstances indeed remarka
bic she related the circumstances 20 Yesterday with
out apparent conycJn that she VI done more than
others bit with the evident win that she could nave
done yet for her children. she nd weep: hers
beyond the grief that finds relief In tears, bat Wnen
the rescued Of her little lock casped her arms this
morning her will burst, else heart will rsak
Two b. others from Waterbury. VI. we're among the
saved. One was found upon the wheel, aud the other
was picked 20 senseless ABOUT half mile from boat
cngng 70 ladder After nearly two hours work ne was
recovered
NJ. Geo Haley u is feared Is amorg the lost, He has
been clerk Of the Niagara since she has run He
well known in this city, AND greatly respected
ny al who knew him. bis second CLERK and
saved.
The passengers Vho have arrived here are many Of
them 10 utter desltution. II pleasure 70 chronicle
he act o. Mr. A. A. NCGadey Of Toronto went down
20 the Traveller yesterday morning and seeing toe desu
tion Of the sufferers, 500 toward their csnfort
Others who may feel Disposed 10 give ~ their abundance
easily ascertain where blessings be bestowed.
We think liberal donation from toe mstaers Of Chcago
who may sympa,hiza with Mrs. Chalmers would not be
amits and though shc probably would not accept com.
rha ha Il moi rafua A ho