THE LATE DISASTER ON LAKE ERIE.
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BUFFALO, AUGUST TO- 1871


0sappaHing CaIGmit-estractiOn the steamboat Erie


bgre and The loss Of one hundred and seventy IiUes


Little did we think Yesterday in penning brief paragraph


commentator of TIE Erie, that to-day should be called
upon record the destruction that boat together wtha loss
of life uneaualed on our own or almost any other waters
The Erie left the dock 10 minutes past p M. loaded
with merchandise destined for Chicago and nearly
be ascerned about hundred persons including pas
sengers and board The boat had been thoroughly
overhaued and although the wind was blowing resh every
thing promised pleasant and prosperous voyage.


Nothing occurred this prospect till about eight when
the boat off Silver creek about miles from shore, and
80 from this city, when slight explosion was heard and
mneatey nsantaneously almost the whole vessel
enveIopcd in fame Capt Titus who the upper
deck the time, rushed the ladies cabin obtain the life
preservers OF which there from 90 100 board but
rapid had been the progress of the ames he found inn
possible the cabin He returned to the upper deck
his way giving orders TO the stop the engine
the wind and the headway of OF the boat increasing the fierce
ness of the flames and driving them aft The engineer ep
that consequence of flames he could reach the
engine The instantly directed TO put the helm
hard a-starboard


The vessel swung slowly round heading the shore, and
the boashere three board-vere then ordered
be lowered Two of the boats were lowered but in conse
quence ofhe heavy and the headway Of the vessel
they both swamped they had touched the water
We will attempt describe the awful aud appalling
dion Of the passengers Some were frantic with fear and
horror others plunged headong mady the others
again seized upon any thing buoyan upon which they could
lay hands The Small boat forward had been lowered 1t
alongside the wheel, with three four persons IN it,
when the Captain jumped n and the boat Immediately drop
ped astern and filled with lady oated by with
life preserver on she cried for help There safety
in the boat the Captain threw her the only in the boat
she caught the oarand saved 1t Mrs Lynde OF
and she the only lady saved.


la this condition, the boat of fierce fire. and the pas
sengers and crew endeavorng themselves by swim
ming supporting themselves by whatever they could reach
they were found by the Clinton at about 10 p. Nj. The
Clinton left here in the morning bat in consequence of the
wind had TO put into Dunlr She laid there till
set at which time she out and had proceeded far
Barcelona when tig the fire of the Erie dis
covered, some 20 miles astern.


The Clinton Immediately put about and reached the burn
ing wreck about 1t a fearful sight All the upper
works of the Erie had been burned away The engine
Standing but the hull was of dull red fame The
passengers and crew floating around screaming in their
agony and shrieng for help The boats ohe Clinton
instantly lowered and manned and every person that could
be heard picked up and every possible relief af
forded.


The Lady. little steamboat lying Dunkirk, went
of that habor possible after the discovery of the
fire. and arrived after the Clinton |. thought
by the survivors that she saved any.


BY A. NJ all still except the dead cracking of the
fire Not solitary individual could be heard the
wild waste of line then made fast the
mains of the Eres rudder and effort made the hap
less hull ashore About this time the Chaauque up
and lent her The hull of the Erie towed
within about four miles of the shore, when sunk in eleven
ahoms water. BY this time daylight The lines
were cast off, The Clinton headed for this port which she
reached about o'clock OF who are saved several are
badly burned but none are dangerously injured far
have heard


Orgiu etde Fsve-Among the passengers on board were
SIX painters IN the employ of Mr. W. O. Miller of this city,
WoiV SOmo 10 Erie 10 paint the steamboat Madison


They had with them demohns filled with spirits of turpen
tine and vanish which, unknown Captain Titus.
placed the boiler deck directly the boilers One of
the remen who saved says he had occasion go
the deck and. seeing the demohns, removed them. They
were replaced, but by whom known Immediately pre-
vous to the bursting forth of the flames several board
have assured slight explosion heard The demi-
Johns had probably burst with the heat and their nanabe
contents taking fire instantly communicated to every part
the boat which, having been freshly vanished caught as
it had been gunpowder


Ocabln passengers Captain Titus thinks there were be-
tween 30 and 49, of whom 10 IL were ladies' In the
steerage about 10 passengers nearly of whom were
Swiss and German Immigrants. mostly in families


singular coincidence that the Ere burned at al
most denticay the spot where the Washing was
burned in June 1888 Captain Brown who commanded the
Washington at that time happened be board the Gin
fon and very active saving the survivors the Erie


AMERICAN CONSUL IN PRISON.