The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-04-16
4 TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
The Steamer Sea Bird Burned
on Lake Michigan.

ludTlue ulSaSter, winch occurred THIS DlOTu- !
ing-a disaster, which in all probability
has involved not only the loss OF one OF the
finest steamboats, on the Western lakes,
but the sacrifice of numerous lives.
About o'clock this morning reports
reached this city that the Steamer Sea
Bird, of Goodrich's line, was burned oft
Lake Forest. An hour later the truth OF
these reports was placed beyond doubt by
the statements of several passengers by the
train from Milwaukee, who had actually
seen a steamer, about six miles off Lake
Forest, enveIoped in flames. At this hour
it is impossible to determine with any de-
gree Of accuracy the extent of this dlSas-
ter. But one thing seems certain: A
large sized passenger steamer has been
burned while at sea, in locality where
the only facilities for the rescue Of those
on board were such as the boat itself af-
forded, or as might have been furnished
by some passing sail vessel. This fact
alone must necessarily give rise to the
most melancholy forebodings, which are
deepened by the thought of the strong gale
and consequent heavy sea that have pre-
vailed along the lake shore during the past
twelve hours.
The Sea Bird is known to have left Mil
waukee at IL o'clock last night, for Chi
cage, and should have reached this port by
9 o'clock this morning She touched Ra.
cine about 2 o'clock this morning, AID at
o'clock o steamer, which could have
been none other than the Sea Bird, was
seen passing Waukegan, headed south
ward, apparently all right. About half
covered off Lake Forest, eight miles this
side of Waukegan, wrapped in flames,
She was nearly six miles from the shore,
between which and the burning craft a
high sea was running. One or two sail
vessels were apparently steering toward
the fame wrapped boat, with the view of
attempting the rescue of those on board
task which we can only hope was accom-
plished, though the probabilities are
against such belief. There were no
tugs OF steam craft of any kind, so far as
can now be learned, at Waukegan, or at
any point nearer the burning steamer than
Racine, distance of thirty-four miles,
and no ordinary row boat could live many
minutes in such waves as were created by
the northeast gale. Still as the waves
came shoreward and as the vessel was well
provided with life-boats, life-preservers,
etc., the crew and passengers, when driven
into tic lake by the remorseess flames,
might possibly reach the shore in safety,
but the chances for them must have been
fearfully small.
The Sea Bird was owned by Captain A.
f. Goodrich, Of this city, and was one of
the largest and finest boats Of the Good
rich line. She was side-wheel steamer,
of Il tuns burden. Her length was l85
feet, and she possessed every facility for
both freight and transportation. She was
built at Manitowoc, six years ago. She
lay at that point during the last winter,
aud had recently been re-fitted and ro.fur-
nished for the business of the opening sea-
son. She was never before so we'll pre-
pared for the position to which her owner
had ASSIGNED her. About two weeks ago
she took her place in the regular line,
running between Chicago, Milwaukee,
and Two Rivers. She left this port at
o'clock, on Tuesday morning last, on her
fifth trip Of the season. Her officers were
as follows: John Morris, commander
Richard Hacklin, first officer, Thomas
Hanaman, first engineer; James A. Hold
ges, clerk; John Morrison, steward Her
crew numbered about twenty-five men
She was built at cost Of $50, 900 or s75
900. There was no insurance on her, it
being too early in the season for the issu
ing Of marine policies.
1t is not yet known what passenger
were on board the Inflated steamer. 1t i
not probable that the number was large
however.
, AS soon as the news Of the disaste
reached Captain Goodrich, in this city, h
dispatched the propeller Trucsdale, Cap
tain Perrett, to the scene, and Captain
Goodrich himself left on the Q O'Clock
train for Lake Forest. We shall give fur
ther particulars of this sad disaster in on,
i five o'clock edition, if it be possible to OBJ
tain the facts in time.
LATER.-At four o'clock, the Cornclia
schooner, reached this city with tie sur
vivors, saved from the wreck OF the burn
ing steamer. There was but two, Mr.. al
bert G. Chamberlain, and Edmund Henne
bury. Both were passengers, although
!, Mr.. Hennebury is seaman, who was com
, Ing TO Chicago as a passenger on the Sc;
Bird, to ship for the summer.
Mr.. Chamberlain says that probably ff
ty persons were burned or drowned, thai
the fire was caused by careless servant
. who took the ashes and Goals out Of cabin
!, stove, and threw them overheard in the
face of the wind, that in the hold below
was :. large invoice Of wooden pals newly
painted, packed in straw, that the coal:
and fire probably fell into this highly in.
!, Hammable material, and the wild blew SC
the moment the blaze commenced it Gov
cred the whole afterpart of the steamer
that no effort was to get out the boats
that the vessel was headed on shore ant
the engines kept at work, but that in few
5 minutes she refused to obey her helm an(
G drifted out into the lake, that the passen
gers aroused from their sleep, it being
half past six in the morning, threw The
furniture and other material that would
float, and jumped in after them-but the
G water being just above the freezing point
4 was so cold that they could not live in it
t and few moments those who were buoy
ed up by floating portions of the wreck
would lose their hold aud sink. The wave,
were rolling high, no human being coult
;,o lo,cr IN Tho wofor ~ uop en- onld