The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-07 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF AN EMIGRANT SHIP BY

The Orlando, Captain White, arrived at Havre
Tuesday with a number of passengers belonging to the
Am:rican ship St. George, Captain Bairson, which had
beta destroyed by tire at eta. The St. Liaorge, it appears,
left Liverpool for New York on the 24th of November with
127 passengers and 25 craw—the former chiefly Irish, aad
amoeg-t them many women and children. The voyage
was f.vourable among,. up to the 24th of December, when
in ti deg. 12 min. latitude, and 2 i deg. 30 min. longitude,
the hold of the ship was discovered to be on fire. The cap-
tain caused one of the hatchways to be opened, and set the
fire-engine to play ; but the smoke was so thick between
decks that the passengers wore obliged to leave. The
dames spread to the part of the vessel between the main
and misen masts, and were accompanied with such thick
mike that seven or eight persons were saffocated. It
was sow found that it was impossible to check the
progress of the flames, and the captain assembled sU
the pusengen on deck. Rain was falling, and the herilon
wsei overhung with clouds, but fortunately a vessel passed
satheiently near to perceive the signals of distress. This
vessel turned out to be the Orlando, and she approached as
near the St. George as it was safe to do. Unfortunately
she had lost her sails and boats in a violent gale. The cap-
tain of the St. Geoego caused his two boats to be let dawn,
and %ley eunveyed as many passengers u they could hold
to the °elude, but the violence of the sea was such that
°es of them was knocked to pieces against that vessel.
The lit boat only remained to remove 130 persons, bat it
could not take more than four or live at a time. Meantime
the dimes continued to progress, and the wind blew furl-
wady. The sea, too, became so violent that the only means
the psvengers had of entering the boat was to leap into the
sea, and let themselves be picked up. At length, after
silty-four times passing to and fro, the boat succeeded
in placing it of the passengers in safety on board the
Orlando. Of the remaining 51, 15 were drowned,
ens already stated, were suffocated between decks, and
V. principally women and children, fearing to throw them-
selves into the sea, refused to leave the burning vessel. Al
the crew were rescued. Eventually the Orlando, fearing
for its own safety from the progress of the flames and the
vp,lerce of the sea and wind, was obliged to sheer off, leav-
en; tae 21 unfortunate creatures is their wretched fate.
The rescued persons were almost without clothing, but the
captain and crew of the Orlando did everything they pot-
'Oily could to provide for their comfort. It was feared that
a famine would arise in the ship, from the unexpected de-
mand on her stores; and as the Orlando had lost her sails,
there was small hope of ruching land in time. But I..irtu-
lamely the wind was in her favour, and after 11 day: voy-
age she &nivel safe at Uavre. lies provisions, by that
time, were completely exhausted, and she had only a few
Olions of water. Food was immediately procured fur the
passengers and crews, who had already began to feel the
pangs of hunger ; and they were afterwards sent to differ-
ent lodging-houses, where they will be taken care of. It
is the intention of some shipowners of Maitre to raise a I.IL.
emiption for their relief.

MILITARY BALL.—The annual ball of the non-
toramr,sioned officers of the 2nd liagiment of Life Guards,
stationed at Windsor, came off at the Town-hall (by per-
mu-ion of the mayor), on Tuesday evening. There were
between 200 and 3tY) znt, including several of the mili-
tary from Hounslow and London, as well as o sprinkling of
the ycomaray of the neighbourhood with their ladies. A
haailfaras entertainment was provided in the council-
thandwr, and dancing of the first order, to the fine band of
the regiment, was kept up with great spirit and harmony
until a 1 rte hour. Corporal•mrjor Percy cn".ciated as master
the cercraaies.