off Vermillion, OH Steamer 'Anthony Wayne' Disaster, Apr 1850

TERRIBLE DISASTER ON LAKE ERIE.

30 OR 40 LIVES LOST.

Sandusky, Ohio, April 30.
Terrible Steamboat Explosion on Lake Erie.
The steamer 'Anthony Wayne' blew up opposite Vermillion, Erie county, Ohio, eight miles from shore, at 1 1/2 o'clock, Sunday morning. She sank in twenty minutes. The hurricane deck parted from the hull and floated. The survivors were exposed on her deck until day-break, when the schooner 'Elmira', Capt. NUGENT, was hailed and brought the killed and wounded, (forty-six) and survivors to Sandusky. The Wayne was an old boat, not in the regular line of Buffalo and Sandusky Steamers. She was owned by CHARLES HOWARD, of Detroit. Accounts vary as to the number on board. The first mate says that the Wayne came to Sandusky with 10 in the steerage and 20 in the cabin; from the Sandusky trains 24 went aboard, and crew numbered 30 -- total 84. Nineteen of the crew and thirty-one of the passengers are likely to recover. Total lost and missing, from 35 to 40.
The passengers known to have been killed are: MR. TITUS, of Dayton; A. W. HART, of Perrysburgh, wife and child; JOHN ELLIS, of Mt. Hope, Mich.; J. W. DOTY, of Warsaw, Ill., is missing.
Passengers dangerously wounded are J. S. JOSLYN, of Vermont; R. SHAW, of Dayton.
Passengers badly, but not dangerously scalded JOHN TIERCY, Louisville, Ky.; C. G. LAWRENCE, Angelica, N. Y,; T. L. GREY, Stillwater, N. Y.; A. ELLIS, of Mount Hope.
Slightly Scalded P. McDONNELL, N. J.; JOHN BRADLEY, Cleveland; HENRY McDONOUGH, Trenton, Mich.
Passengers badly scalded MR. BALCOMB and C. J. SMITH, Hillsdale, Mich.; Col. VAN HORNE, Alton, Ill.; J. WOOD, Oxford, Ohio; MRS. CAROLINE KENDALL and child, Springfield, Ohio; JOHN W. GREEN, wife and two children; a passenger from St. Louis, name unknown; EDWARD KELLOGG, wife and two children, Lafayette, Ia.; MR. FITCH, Huron, Ohio; MRS. SMITH, from below Cloveland, returning from her father's in Huron county, Ohio; WILLIAM KAVANAGH, Troy, N. Y.
Eleven of the crew are lost, viz; J. ELMORE and E. BITCHARD, Engineers; HENRY STURGIS, Steward, from Mt. Clemens; A. H. MEADE, barkeeper; WILLIE ROBINSON, JOHN WILLIAMSON and HENRY LELLOGG, two waiters, A. H. CARTWRIGHT, deck hand. Missing; JOHN BRAINARD and JAMES E. NEAL, firemen; WHITNEY PARSONS, porter; HENRY BLANUIN, deck hand. 15 of the crew, including the captain, both mates, saloon keeper, two wheelsmen, three firemen, one porter, two deck hands, the barber, and chambermaid, are saved. All the crew thus accounted for.
Detroit, April 30.
Further Particulars -- It is impossible to conjecture what was the immediate cause of the sad disaster. The boilers were new ones, manufactured in this city by WOLCOTT & HAMMOND last season, and said by those acquainted with machinery to have been as good boilers as any on the Lakes. The engineer was a most trusty man, and also the assistant; to both of whom the highest wages were paid for their valuable services. Two better men, as far as was known of them, by those competent to judge, can not be found on the Lakes. As we before said the cause of the accident is unaccountable to the owners and also to the underwriters in this city.
The extent of the loss of life will probably differ from the first report above, which has been made up during the excitement of the moment. The sad account thus far given is truly heart rending. Both of the engineers who are lost, are from Detroit, and we learn that MR. BITCHARD has a wife and family residing here. Others of the crew who are reported lost, are from this city.
The Wayne is insured for $11,000, of which $5,000 is in the North-Western Company, $3,000 in the Columbus, and $3,000 in the Lexington.
Capt. GORE, of the Wayne, and MR. FREEMAN saloon-keeper, arrived here yesterday afternoon in the 'Arrow', with the body ot the brother of FREEMAN, who was engaged on the boat as as hand. We learn that a few particulars connected with the disaster, further then is given in our regular dispatch.
The loss of life is variously reported from 40 to 70, but the despatch is likely the most correct. Capt. GORE was asleep in his state-room at the time of the explosion. The engine was in charge of the 1st engineer, and probabilities are that the cause of the explosion will never be fully known, as neither of the engineers are left to tell the sad tale.
MR. FREEMAN was standing at the time on the main deck of the boat, smoking, having just left the Saloon, when the explosion occurred. He immediately went to the saloon and brought his brother out, who was severely scalded, placing him upon the hurricane deck, where he remained until the boat commenced sinking fast. He then left him and went below; in passing the captain's room, he secured the bureau, threw it overboard, and jumped on it. He was finally picked up by a small boat.
Those who remained in the Saloon were all killed. One of the boilers was thrown by the force of the explosion on the main deck, and her lower works completely riddled by the concussion. There was about $600 in money in the safe belonging to the boat, which went down with the boat.
We are happy to state that MR. VOREE, the clerk, was not very much injured as is reported. After the hull went down, those that were saved, remained on the deck which floated, and were taken off by the small boats.
New York, April 29.

Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette Wisconsin 1850-05-02
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!