Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-16
The Recent Terrible Marine Dis
aster on Lake Erie-Particuiars
of the Burning Of the Racine.
IFrom The Buffalo Courier, August l2.I

Captain Arthur, will. the passengers and
crew (twenty-eight in ally of the burned
propeller Racine, reached this city last
evening by the Lake Huron railway from
Port Stanley, to which place the propeller
Avon conveyed them after their rescue
The passengers speak in the highest posi-
BILE terms of Captain Arthur and the Off
GERS of the steamer, and attribute their
preservation to their heroic conduct. We
gather from the passengers and crew the
following particulars: Upon the alarm of
fire being given, which was about two
o'clock Wednesday morning, panic seized
the passengers, and some of the deckhands,
and they rushed into and filled the boat
hanging at the stern of the propeller al
most instantly, and In the haste of its oc-
cupants to lower it into the water the ropes
were cut and the boat fell bow foremost into
the water against the wheel, and was quickly
reduced to wreck and its occupants down
ed. Immediately after this catastrophe,
which happened while Captain Arthur and
MANY of the crew were below endeavoring
to uuench the fire around the boiler, but
which was soon found to be unsuccessful,
the officers succeeded, by using their re-
yolyers, in intimidating the remainder of
the people on board to better discipline,
and commenced launching the life and
yawl boats from the hurricane deck, and,
although the vessel had been headed to the
wind to keep the flames aft as long as pos
sible, the launching Of the boats was found
| to be very difficult, as the fire and smoke
| quickly enveloped them. 1t was, however,
| after great labor accomplished, and the pas
sengers and crew placed in them, and or
dered to row to some distance from the
burning boat, fearing an explosion of the
boiler or of the highwines which were
fiereely burning.
Captain Arthur. however. remained on
| deck, throwing over considerable property,
and only left the ship when forced to do sc
by the flames; then, unfurling the steam
er's flag over her bows, called out-.Boys
the old flag floats over her yetw and slid
ing down a rope into the water, was soon
picked up by the life-boat. Having taken
precautions to provision the boats, he direct
ed them to keep in the vicinity Of the burn
ing steamer, as 1t would naturally attract
a. .tention and succor. The passengers were
made very comfortable during the long
hours they were obliged to walt for some
passing vessel; witnessing, In the meantime
| the destruction ofthe steamer. They were al
last rejoiced to hear the whistle of an ap.
preaching propeller, which proved to be the
lower lake propeller Avon, Capt. Smith, who
took them on board, and towed the burning
wreck to land--a distance Of eighteen Of
twenty miles, where she was scuttled ant
beached, and now lies In ten feet Of water
The passengers and crew were then takeI
to Port Stanley, about fifty miles. To Capt
Smith and the people Of the Avon the CRATE
full acknowledgements Of the survivors ar
due, for the many courtesies and the grea
assistance rendered In saving the hull an,
machinery Of the boat. The passengers an,
crew saved lost everything. except wha
they had on their persons. The books wer
also lost, although they had been CAREFUL
put into q bag and placed in the lifeboa
vet in handing them on board the Avon
was dropped into the lake and sank, render
ing IL impossible to give an accurate list {
those lost. ~ q
The propeller Racine was built in Clevs
, land in the tall Of, 1855. It was sold b
|. Charles Ensign to the Western Transport.
|, tion Company, after having been thorough
ly refitted the autumn previous. The yess
: was IN good condition and rated AZ. !.
= was insured for $3.50 in the Columbia II
t surance Company. The cargo, which
. said 10 Be q total iosr. was on follows: 50!