Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-08-01
FATAL STEAMBOAT FIRE.
The Frontenac on Lake Cayuga Burns
Nine Lives Lost.

Auburn, N. Y, July 27.-The steam
boat Frontenac was burned and beach
ed opposite Farleys Point at Lake Cay
uga today and nine lives were lost The
victims were all women and children
passengers, and all were drowned. Sew
burned before the boat could be beach
ed. She lies tonight burned and black
ed in seven feet of water. The bodies
of the drowned women and children
have been recovered and the injured are
being cared for at the homes of persons
near the scene of the wrecked steamer.
The following were drowned and the
bodies subsequently recovered:
Mrs. Homer Genung, Freeville, N. Y.
Carl Genung, years old. son of Mrs.
Genung.
Miss Zalia M'Creary, Cohoes, N. Y.
Miss Ida Bennett. Frankfort, N. Y.
Miss Stella Clinton, Ithaca, N. Y.
Miss Marietta Sullivan, Syracuse.
Six-year-old daughter of Howard
Able, South Bloomingburg.
Two unidentified bodies of women.
The steamer Frontenac, an old side
wheeler, double deck craft, which has
piled between Ithaca and Cayuga, on
Lake Cayuga for twenty-five years, left
the former place this afternoon for the
upper lake points, carrying fifty passen-
gers and a crew of twelve. In mid-lake
fire broke out in the engine room, and
famed by stiff northwest wind, spread
quickly to the afterward section OF the
boat. The crew Of twelve men fought
the flames at first, but seeing that moth
ing could save the boat, turned all their
attention to saving the passengers.
Captain Brown was the last to leave
the burning boat.
In strong contrast to the cool bravery
of the crew, was the panic and, in some
instances, cowardice, of many of the
men among the passengers. In their
efforts to save themselves, they serious
ly impeded the work of the crew and
endangered the lives of every one on
the steamer. This is according to the
statements of the crew themselves.
It is not known tonight just when or
Just how the women and children were
thrown into the water. 1t is thought,
however, that they became panic-stFick-
en- and either jumped into the water as
the boat neared the shore or were
forced overheard in the rush to get into
the boats that put off. The bodies were
recovered near shore. Miss Stella Gin
ton waited until the steamer ran upon
the beach and then leaped into the
seven feet of water and was drowned.
1t is thought the others did likewise, be-
heving the water was shallow enough to
wade ashore.
There were individual acts of heroism
during the mad race of the little steam
er for the shore. The engines, which
were amidship, were driven to their ut
most, which was painfully slow, as the
flames spread to the upper works, fan
ned by the wind. Captain Brown direct
ed his little crew and they worked hero
ically to calm the passengers, of whom
the majority were women, and to show
them how to fasten the life preservers.
AS soon as the boat was beached, word
was sent to Auburn and physicians were
rushed to the scene.
A pathetic incident followed the bring
jng ashore the body Of Miss Marietta
Sullivan, of Syracuse. She was on her
way home, and had planned to meet her
fiance at Cayuga, whence they were to
proceed together. When her fance
learned of the accident to the From
tenac, he hurried to the scene, only to
find the body of Miss Sullivan lying on
the shore of the lake. His distress was
most pitiful. Some of the bodies have
been taken to Ithaca, and others brought
mere.