The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-14 00:00:00

SHIP BY FIRE.

LOSS OF THE ST. GEORGE EnIGRANC

The fate of the unhappy creatures who were left
on board the burning wreck of the St. George c;nigrant
ship, which took fire on Christmas Eye, while on a
I voyage from Liverpool to New York, as noticed in this
journal a kw drys ago, has exe;ted the most paistul na-
-1
terrst. From circumstances which have transpired sinew
- .. . .

the first announcement of the melancholy disasteer, thane is
little doubt that the whole of them perished, either from
burning or drowning, making in the whole the lugs
number of fifty-one souls who lost their lives.
The Orlando, it will be recollected, succeeded in
taking off the survivors from the blazing ship,
and reaching Havre with them, where they were landed.
Their report of the catastrophe mentioned that several had
been left on board the wreck, and by a subsequent notice,
which appeared in Lloyd's list, to the effect that the
Gazelle, which bad arrived in the Thames, hod overtaken
the ship Kennybunk, which was running hack to Havre
with a number of emigrants she had t.ken off the St.
George, an impression was entertained that a second vessel
had sighted the burning ship, and had succeeded in rescu-
ing the unhappy souls who had been left on board. On
inquiries being instituted, however, it wos as-
certained that the vessel which the Gazelie had
noticed was really the Orlando and the name
of her owner, ' Kennybunk," had been mistaken
for that of her own. This explanation left but little hops
of the poor creatures being preserved. The S:. George
laving been an American ship, not mush is known of bet
at Lloyd's, nor was our informant enabled to glean any par-
ticulars at the office of the Government Emipation Cern-

missionen in Westminster, the ill-fated vessel not having
been chartered by them. Private emigrant ships are
inspected, we understand, by culy appointed officers
et the ports which they d.•port frum ; but there
does nut seem to be any return made to hcad.quar-
ten of the character and number of passengers such vessels
have on board. All that is known of the deploriblet event
is that on the 24th of November the St. George left Liver-
pool for New York, with a crew of 25 hands and t 27 emi-
grants, comprising men, women, and childr.n. mostly
Irish, and of the very poorer class. In t.cl.l.tion to her
stores, she had a general cargo, amongst wL;eh, we are
Wormed. was a quantity of naptha and oil, to the escape
of which, in all probability, may be attributed ti.e terrible
loss. In endeavouring to make her way acr‘ns tic Atlantic
she encountered most formidable we ather, am: after
being buffetted about for a month, on the 24th
of December she was discovered to be on lire.
The dense bodies of smoke which came up her
hatchways too clearly indicated that some strong inflammable
material had !ignited, and as the fire extended a most
frightful scene of excitement prevailed am ;cgst the emi-
grants. A gale of wind sprung up, and all were seized
with horror and dismay, and in a state not much unlike
those who were on board the illfated Amazon. After seine
hams of dreadful suspense, the Orlando, Mr. White, com-
mander, came in sight, and with a due regard for the
safety of his own vessel, he immediately adopted what
measures he could for preserving the unhappy
creatures who were crying for help. Tun Or-
lando having just previouay experienced a heavy gale
of wind, which had carried away her boats and sails, some
difficulty was experienced in communicating with the St.
George. The latter had only one boat left ; that WAS of a
small size, and most painful fears were entertained lest she
should be dashed to pieces against the side of either ship,
or be swamped by the fearful sea which was running. At
length the boat was got down, and in order m avoid being
struck against the side of the vessel, tee emigrants, one
after another (at least those who were saved), jumped into
the sea and were picked up. This hazardous
task occupied more than twenty hours ; the
Orlando held by for that time, the boat passed
to and fro sixty-four times, and rescued seventy-six
of the passengers and some of the crew. Why the re-
mainder of the poor creatures could not he got oil' has not
been satisfactorily explained. It is stated that 26 were left
behind on board the blazing wreck, that eight were suffo-
cated by the vast body of smoke which was poured up from
the hold, and that 17 were drowned. Considering the
character of the weather, however, and the positi.-n of the
two ships, it is most marvellous that so many of the emi-
grants were saved. A list of those who perisht.d has not as
yet come to hand, but it is represented to include fathers and
mothers in the deplorable loss. Had the weather
been moderate, the Orlando, by going nearer along-
' side, might have preserved more of the unfortunate beings.
The violence of the elements however prevented such
being done, and much honour is due to tile master and
crew of the Orlando for the humanity and daring intre-
pidity they displayed on the onasioa. Altogether they
hovered about the blazing ship for thirty-six uours. She
was on fire in every put, and when they lost sight of her
she apparently would go down in a short time. The Or-
lando then made for the channel, and, as before announced,
reached Havre, where the survivors were landed. Their
condition was tho most painful, and excited much sym-
pathy. They had lost all the little they had in the world,
and many had to lament the loss of some Lear relative.
The authorities at Havre exerted themselves very nobly
towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor creatures,
and as much as 3001. or 1001. was speedily collected on their
behalf.

THE EIGHTH HUSSARS.
NOTTINGHAM, THURSDAY.

A fracas occurred in this town bet Ween a number
of mechanics and a party of the above regiment on Sunday
evening last, which it is feared will terminate in serious
consequences.
It appears that on Sunda) evening last a party of the Bth
Hussars (newquartered in Nottingham), consisting of about
30, met at their house of call, the Milton's Head, and were
quietly spending the evening. A soldier, much intoxicated,
came into the public-house, when the landlord very properly
advised him to go to the barracks. The soldier persisted in
entering, and instead of joining his comrades up stairs
walked into a room filled with other company. In
a very short time high words arose, and some of the
men who were present state that the soldier challenged any
one of them to fight. Upon this a general row commenced,
and the soldiers occupying the upper room came down to
assist their comrade. The house was quickly cleared. It
was then discovered that the intoxicated soldier had re-
ceived some dangerous wounds; the crown of his head had
been laid open by a fender which had been used in the
affray. In the course of an hour an escort was sent for
him, and he was conveyed in a dangerous state to the bar-
racks hospital.
This savage attack so enraged the men of the Bth, that on
Monday evening upwards of 20, armed with abort blud-
geons, came into the town in search of their opponents. In
this, however, they failed, none of the belligerents making
their appearance.
The matter did not, however, rest here, for last night, at
half-past 6, one of the Bth was walking towards the barracks
in company with a man named Thompson, when they were
suddenly attacked by a number of their antagonists, and
the soldier received a blow under the right eye from a sharp
instrument. Thompson and his companion immediately
took refuge in the Milton's Head, where they escaped fur-
ther injury.
The latter attack has further incensed the men of the
Bth, and it is feared that some serious results will follow.
The man wounded on Sunday evening remains yet in the

hospital.
Colonel Shewell has, we have heard, done all he can so
prevent a disturbance, and we hope his endeavours will be
effectual.