The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-20
DETAILS OF THE BURNING OF THE
GRANITE STATE.
Moments OF Terror Passengers Jumping
overboard-fieartrending Scenes and Inei-
dents-The Fate of Mrs. Main.

day night to Saybrook, discharged freight
ana headed mp the Connecticut river. IL
was nearing daybreak when she approached
TINS point. All her passengers and all the
hands not on duty were I'm their beds.
An engineer noticed a strong smell Of
something on fire. lie went forward and
was met by dense, binding volume OF
smoke pouring up from the stairway 10
the forward cabin. The alarm was given
and swiftly sped 10 the pilot-house. The
boat was al once headed at full speed for
the landing at this place, and Clerk Silo-
way called assistance % arouse the saloon
passengers. The rush OF the boat swept
backward the flames and the somke in great
clouds, and the passengers, blinded and
bewildered, some dressed and some clad
only in such garments as they could quick
est put on, hurried to the various exits.
MOMENTS OF TERROR.
The steamer swung into her dock and q
hawser was drawn ashore, holding her but
moment before the flames had severed ii
from its fastening-place on the forward
cleat OF the boat. Before half the passen-
gers could spring TO the dock the craft.
now a mass OF flame, was at the mercy Of
the strong current The engineers had
been driven from their posts Ivy the heat.
and the pilot-hOuse was deserted Captain
Dibble. Clerk Siiloway. and First Mate
Ross, with their assistants, ran from pas
senger to passenger, fastening ile-pre-
servers upon them and preparing them for
the leap for life or death that must come in
a few moments. Two or three row-bOats
put out from the shore, manned by the
villagers.
PASSENGERS JUMPING OVERHEARD.
As the skifs reached the side Of the
burning steamer excited deck passenger
mostly NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for them only
TO overload and swamp the frail crafts. 4
few struck out for the bank, but il is rocky
and was difficult 10 hold 10 against the
strong current. 4 small, dismantled ferry
boat was NJ hand. Some OF the villagers
showed this into the stream, and from lis
low decks reached saving arms 10 those in
the water This little craft was made further
useful. lis crew managedtO propel il TO the
side OF the burning steamer, and passen-
gers sprang to its deck or into the water
and were pulled aboard. Finally the yeS-
sci swung nearly across the stream and Der
bow grounded upon the shoal west bank.
The river is narrow ut this place. and haw-
~ti> ~ utl ektlus HiittNutu 10 ltliAft
those burned away a: the bows. held herto
her position. IL was most fortunate. n the
heat wax by this time intense. Every living
being had been driven overheard.
TIE BOATS AND LIFE PEEsERvERs.
Not a boat from the steamer had been
launched. and if the story Of two Of the
vessels hands may be accepted they were
in no condition for ready launching. These
men and others tried 10 get a boat over
board, but could not move her from her
blocks. Liie-preseryers were on board.
Of course. but it does not appear
that they Were used in single
instance That lives were saved at all
appears to be due TO the proximity Of the
burning vessel to the shore and eXertions
OF those who put out in boats. For those
passengers who could swim there was
/ really little danger. One Of them. fully
seventy, saws that for twenty-five years he
/ had not taken a stroke. But as he dropped
into the water the swimming art-once
! learned. never forgotten came back 10
/ him, and he went ashore easily.
PITIABLE SCENES on BOARD.
Affecting stories are heard to-day Of the
scenes within the saloon and among the
emigrantS below when the panic was al its
! height. The officers OF the boat did what
they could. but the spread OF the flames
was bewildeiing in its rapidity and fierce
ness. for the craft was heading against
strong wind when the fire first started,
and had 70 keep her course to reach
the dock. When her bow touched
/ the first rush was made in that di-
rectiOn. But the centre Of the fire and the
thIckest Of the smoke were forward
and stout men turned back ap-
plled. There was naught TO do
/ but seek the stern and risk their
chances. The lady passengers are credited
with courage NJ this moment. There were
pale faces and trembling forms. but few
outcries. Reaching the stern, most OF the
passengers descended TO the main deck,
whence they could easily drop into the
river. and the heat was there less intense.
for the flames made slower progress Mt
through the masses OF freight than among
/ the light woodwork OF the saloon deck.
TIE POOR HORSES.
Toward the bow there was heard a
strange confusion. Of sound,-hammering,
crashing, and cries Of animals, az times
nearly human in their agony. y dozen
horses were plun~ing and tearing n their
hatcrs, wild with terror. some OF tie
drck-pss.cngers who had been fer
ward explained the noises and showed
bruises received rs they bad forced
/ their way past the animlis 10 the stern.
Some OF the horses finally broke loose and
plunged overheard. one OF them landed
upon a woman. deck passenger, >trus-
giing in the water. and broke in several Of
/ her front teeth. From the stern OF The boat
most OF the passengers were rescued.
sADFATE OF A BRIDE.
Mrs. c. /. Main, Of New Haven, is the
/ only saloon passenger believed 20 have been
/ lost. She was with her husband, and had
been but recently married in New York.
Mr.. Main j. almost frantic with grief, and
! for hours after the disaster could not he
persuaded 10 leave the river bank. When
/ the couple were aroused by hammering
upon their door Mr.. Main seized his wife
and rushed 10 the side OF the boat.
With locked arms they dropped into
! the water. Either he could not swim
+ or his arms were so clasped ~ 10 De USE
less. Twice they went down, and after
that he remembered nothing until he found
I himself lodged against one OF the paddle
wheels and clineing % il. For a time be
could not be satisfied that his bride had
not been saved hy some OF the rescmng
party. but a few questions when be fully
recovered his senses diSsipated bis last
hope. Her body was recovered thi, after
noon.
PERSONS REPORTED MISSING.
There are rum0Ts OF losses Of life beyond
those admitted by the officers OF the boat.
( One Of the passengers declared that he
( heard cries for help from the sta;eroom
hall after the flames had cut of all commu-
nication. Clerk Silloway claims that no
saloon passenger was lost other than Mrs.
Main, and OF the steamers hands only the
second cOOk-Nichol4s JacSson-is known
TO be dead. There are yet two pas