DISASTER ON THE LAKE

CANCELLED

MEET THE AUTHOR

"Disaster on Lake Erie:

The 1841 Wreck of the Steamship Erie"

Meet author Alvin F. Oickle, when he joins us at the Historical Society on May

19, to sign copies of his new book on a historic Lake Erie disaster.

According to his publisher, Mr. Oickle's newest release from the imprint is an

exciting treatise on a historic happening:

"On August 9, 1841, the steamship Erie, one of the most elegant and fastest

sailing [such vessels] between Buffalo and Chicago, departed, carrying 343

passengers. Many were Swiss and German immigrants, planning to start new lives

in America's heartland-[and] most never made it. The Erie erupted in flames

during the night, and, despite the heroic efforts of the crew of the rescuing

ship Dewitt Clinton, 254 lives were lost. As news of this disaster spread,

internationally renowned artists and writers, including Horatio Alger Jr. and

possibly James Fenimore Cooper, wrote about 'John Maynard,' a fictitious, heroic

helmsman. Historian Alvin F. Oickle's minute-by-minute account weaves together

the tragedy of the immigrant families almost at journey's end, the legend of

John Maynard that developed in the aftermath, and the fury of a fire on an

ocean-like lake."

WHEN: Thursday, May 19, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

INFORMATION: buffalohistory.org, (716) 873-9644