The Arkansas Banner

Dreadful Disaster—Steamer Burnt—Two Hundred and Fifty Lives Lost.

The Cleveland Democrat gives a full account of a most fearful destruction of life, from the burning of the steamer G. P. Griffith, on Lake Erie, on the 17th instant:

Death has now visited us in a fearful form, and with terrible effect. The steamer G. P. Griffith, was consumed about daylight yesterday morning, and we fear some two hundred souls perished amid flame and water. When first the alarm was given, the passengers were cool and collected. It was thought the boat could reach the land—for which she was steering—and that thus all would be saved. But, sadly, the steamer struck upon a sand bar, half a mile off shore, and then panic reigned. The passengers, according to those who were saved, became wild with despair, and plunged madly into the water as if life was safe there! Death, alas! came to them amid the gurgling sounds of the watery waste, and by scores they left their homes on earth, for their homes, we hope, in heaven. Of the cause of the fire, we know nothing. And the saved unfortunately, can explain nothing. They were asleep in bed. All they know is, that about 3 o'clock—or about day-break—the alarm of fire was given. The shore was in sight. Hope said it could be reached, and all were still. But when the bar was struck, hope was converted into despair. And, wildly, death by fire was shunned to meet death amid the waters. The passengers plunged into the lake, and but few were saved. The number of passengers on board is thus stated: Steerage, 256; Cabin, 45; Crew, 25: Total, 326.

Mr. R. G. Parks, Postmaster of Rochester, Pa., and well known to our citizens was aboard, and one of the saved. We give his account as he gave it to us:

He was roused at or near 4 A. M. The fire was then burning in the ruins of the chimneys of the boat. They were distant from the land three miles. The second mate ordered the boat ashore, which was immediately obeyed. When within half a mile of shore she grounded. The flames had not then burst out in the forward part of the cabin, but immediately after, the pilot house was enveloped. The command was then given from one of the officers to the passengers to save themselves. Many of them immediately jumped overboard, when the Captain called to the men below to throw the wood, which was on fire, overboard. Men then in the cabin, and on the lower deck, jumped overboard in crowds, some twenty at a time! The Captain remained on the upper deck, near his state room, forward of the wheel house. After all the passengers had jumped overboard, the Captain threw the barber's wife, his mother, wife and child, into the lake, and plunged in himself. He remained a moment on the surface, when with his wife in his arms, they both sank together. Not a female or child—fifteen were counted—was saved, except the barber's wife. There were, at least, according to Mr. Park's estimate, two hundred and fifty emigrants, chiefly from England and Germany, forty five or fifty cabin passengers, besides the crew, numbering about twenty-five. The number of those saved on the beach, was only 40: Mr. Parks was on the wheel. He could not swim. While there, scores floated round him, shrieking madly, "Save me! Save me!" He could do nothing. He felt like giving up. But with a few others he held out and soon the struggle was over, and all was quiet save the sound of the waters as they beat against the charred hull of the steamer. This was the first trip Capt. Roby had made. After daylight search was made for the bodies. Two and three were taken up at a time; and they were laid upon the shore. It was a sad sight to behold. No books were saved. A list, therefore, of the names of passengers cannot be given. The scene on the lake shore was melancholy in the extreme. One hundred and fifty bodies were strewed along. The boats would gather up five or six together from the bottom of the lake. In the death struggle they had clasped each other with the firmest grip. A long trench was dug, and in that the poor emigrants were buried! "Bury my child here," said a lone parent. "Lay my wife there," huskily spoke a bereaved husband. And babes and children, and men and women from Ireland, England and Germany, were buried together under the same sod, near the spot where their lives were so suddenly taken. The Mayor of the city, a number of the Council, and near one hundred of our citizens chartered the steamer Diamond, and left at past 3 P. M., for the scene of the disaster yesterday, with material, and mechanics, to make coffins to bury the dead. The Griffith was on the Toledo and Buffalo line—was owned by Roby and Stoddard, and nearly new. Capt. Roby had his life insured for six thousand dollars.