Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-04-15

borne IN mlnC, however, that n1ne-tenths
Of those who take this Zine at points to
the north of Milwaukee stopat that place.
1t was II o'clock when the boat leftMil-
Waukee--it was early in the morning.
when the fire occurred, and he is not.
| able to say how many. or who, were left
at Milwaukee, though he knew that SONS
who got on with him at Sheboygan stop
ped there. The weather, too, was so I'm
pleasant, and the boat left at SO late an
hour that few would get on her there.
lit cannot, therefore, be absolutely deter
mined how many were lost until it is as
certained who left the boat al Milwaukee.
Chamberlain and Henneberry agree IL
the account which they give OF the eri gin
of the fire, and their story lssdoubtless
the correct one. There were no sudden
explosions, and no bursting boilers. Ac-
cording to them the porter, in removing
the ashes from the cabin stove, where the
I fire was kept brbed all night and day,
instead of taking them to the place IN tie.
wheel house where they could have been
safely thrown into the water, took these
ashes, mixed with diving Goals, in basket
which he carried aft and then emprTsd
the contents overheard, almost IN the face
OF the wind. They suppose that some Of
these Goals were blown back by the wind,
which feel on the deck and sifted through
into the hold Che freight was mixed,
but consisted in part Of some pals and
tubs taken on at Manitowoc. These were
newly painted ard vanished, and were
consequently highly inaammable. A
few Goals falling among them could easily
have caused fire. The crew, who had
nothing to do aft at any time, were then
all forward at breakfast, and the cabin
passengers we're on the point of partak-
ing of theirs, so that the flames had a fair
chance to get good Roadway and to burst
out in the unexpected way they did
These men are positive that the flames
broke GU clear aft, not in the cabin
nor in the vicinity Of the engines, .s
/ At o'clock this morning Mr. E.
Adams, proprietor of..the Evanston House
at Evanston, was aroused by an applicant
for admission. Upon opening the door
he beheld a man, incased with ice frozen
fast to his clothing, and presenting tru-
| ly itiable condition. The man stated
that he was survivor Of the Inflated
steamer Sea Bird, which was enough to.
insure hospitabe reception atthe hands
of Mr. Adams. That gentleman immed-
lately ordered supper for his guest, who
demurred when he heard theorder given
seBut you must be hungry suggested
Mr. A. 81 certainly am, wasithe reply,
shaving had nothing to eat since We'd
nesday night. ButI have no money, sir.
| had some, but it was in the keeping of:
my wife, and she is gone-all4lost !"
And tears rolled down the cheeks of the
sufferer Mr. Adams kindly cared for
him, providing him with food, lodging,
and suit of clothes. .5a.as,
+ The Sea Bird was a side-Nheel steamer
and rated as an A 2" vessel. She was built
at Newport on Lake Erie, in 1859, by
r. G. 0rawel. Her huh was composed of
oak, riveted together by au improved bolt.
The braces and kuees were of the same
material, and likewise rivlted. She had
two decks, each Of oak plank four inches
thick The lower one was used for fret ght,
and on the upper or hurricane deck the
cabins were situated. They were two in
rmber-the one aft being for ladies and
families, aud the forward one appropriated
to gentlemer Each cabin contained
about fifty state-rooms, in each Of which
were two hunks, afording ample accom-
mediation for about two hundred passen-
gers Directly forward Of the cabins, and
between them and the pilot-house, was
the hurricane deck proper. Her length
was lS5 feet over all breadth Of beam,
80 feet, and her capacity was $40 tons,
old style. Last spring she was COM
pletely overhauled, and many imroTe-z
ments, which tended greatly to increase
the comfort Of, passengers, were added,
She was making her fourth trip this spring
when destroyed. Inc December, 1865
she went ashore just above Milwaukee,
and remained on the beach all winter.
She was got off not materially damaged,
thoroughly repaired, and placed on the
line again She was in splendid sea going.
condition when she fell a prey tothe fiery
element. 1t Hss
THE ELEeTIoN.-The returns come in
very slowly, more so than ever before.
we have, seen nothing to change our i'm
pressions that Judges Dixon and Paine are
elected by about 1000 maj ority. A let
ter from Grant county says the returns
indicate an increased republican majority
over last year.
One hundred and seventy four have
been reported, and the net gain over the
vote, on Governor last fall is 1856.
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