The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-10
TBLRGRAPAIC NEWS.
Terrible Disaster on Lake
Michigan.
BURNING OF THE STEAMER SEABRD.
Upwards of Fifty Lfves
Lost.
OF THE STEAMER sEABIRD.
TERRIBLE DISASTER.

Burning Of the Steamer Sen Bird ON Lake
Michigan-Au ON Board Supposed to be
Lost.
CHICAGO, April Q, 1868.
The sdewheel steamer Sea Bird, belonging to
Goodrich's line, which left Milwaukee last night,
was burned or Waukegan this morning. Tho
vessel and cargo are total loss. No communication
has been yet had with the wreck from the shore,
and 1t is supposed that all hands were lost. Tho
vessel was valued at $7O,oOO and was not insured.
Additional Particulars-FOrty.Eight or Fifty
Lives Lost-Names Of the distinguishes
ments Of the Survivors.
CHICAGO, April o, 1858.
The steamboat Sea Bird belonged to the Two Rivers
Maintowec and Chicago line Of steamers. She had
made four trips this season and was on her fifth
when she met with the terrible disaster reported this
morning. When OF Waukegan, about halrpast six
O'Clock this morning, fire was seen issuing from .
pile Of miscellaneous freight stored around the after
guards, outside Of the ladies' cabin, and in ten
minutes time the entire stern Of the boat was
wrapped in names From the statement OF
one of the persons rescued it appears
that all on board. became demoralized even
the officers, and no effort was made to lower the
small boats The only survivors, far as known,
are @. A. Chamberlain and Edwin Hannebury, pas
sengers from Sheboygan. The latter makes the fol-
lowing statement
There were in all about one hundred persons on
board including eight or ten ladies and seven or
eight children. l smoke arising from the main
deck; below the ladies' cabin was lot Of tubs ana
straw lying near, and the fire got among them.
cried "Firep and the crew and passengers
rushed from their rooms. There was great
confusion the fire spread so rapidly as to
convince me that 1t had been burning a long
time. Within five minutes the after part Of the boat
was in flames. do not think that all the ladies had
time get out Of their saterooms and some of them
and their children must have been burned. An effort
was made by portion Of the crew to reach the
small boats, but they failed
Chamberlain states that about halfpast six he was
looking over the side OF the steamer and saw por-
ter came out Of the ladies' cabin with scuttle Of
coal and ashes, and going to the bulwarks, near
where quantity Of miscellaneous freight was stored
he threw the contents overheard In about quarter
Of an hour he heard an alarm Of fire, and
saw flames issuing from this pile Of freight. II
seemed to be not more than ten minutes before the
whole after part of the steamer was in names In
his opinion when the porter threw the Goals over
board the wind blew some back into the freight He
heard no explosion and thinks II the fire had caught
from the boiler exploding it would have been dis
covered sooner. \
Captain Yates of the schooner Cordelia, states
that when or Waukegan he saw burning steamer;
was distant from her four or five miles; bore down
to her and succeeded In rescuing two passengers,
one Of whom was in the water and the other on the
steamer think 1t not probable that any others
were saved; learned from one Of the survivors
that after the steamer took fire the helm was
dashed hard o port, causing her to whrl around
and around as long as the engine worked. The Cor.
della did not leave the wreck until she burned to the
waters edge.
The following are the names OF those on board a.
far as ascertained:--
G. B. Davidson, Robert Scott, George Nieman,
Thomas Carpenter Peter Sullivan, G. A. Goss, L.
Lincoln, Edwin Neghbor, H. Comstock. Rome, N. VI
George w. Emery and 8. G. watkins, clerk.
OFFICERs-Captain John Louis; first mate, Rich
ard Hocklin; first engineer, Thomas Honchen;
clerk James Hodges; steward, John Morrison.
CREw-M. Morrisey, M. Malone, John Glennon,
Jason and James Rourke and ]. Burns, cook and
assistant; H. Simpson and J. Brennan, cabin boys.
The following embarked at Sheb0ygan:-H. A.
Gaylord and wife, w. G. Mallory, Mrs. E. E. Sharpe,
John OBrien, 7. Stein D. c. Daggett, Edwin Hume
burg, L. Packard, DR.. L. Book, Edward ProonSkall,
Henry Urlch Glennbuth, A. G. Chambriar and MIS-.
8. G. Sprague both Of Sheboygan Falls; o. Perry OF
Detroit NJ. Gallagher, Of Xenia, Ohio MIR. Rieper
and wife and ]. M. Leonard, OF Chicago; f. Lester,
wife and children and two travelling agents, names
unknown.