The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-17 00:00:00

FIVE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.

On Wednesday the 29th ult.' the General Lyon a screw
steamer, which had formerly been used as a blockade
runner, sailed from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe, with
nearly GOO persons on board including the crow. Her
passengers consisted of discharged and paroled soldiers,
escaped prisoners, and refugees, among whom were
about 30 women and 25 small children. Two negroes
were also among the refugees. The weather was fair on
leaving Wilmington, but the steamer put into the port
of Smithfield for the night and resumed her voyage on
the following morning. Soon after leaving Smithfield the
wind, which was blowing from the south-west, increased
in violence, and the vessel made but little progress. At 10
o'clock on Friday morning, when off Cape Hatteras, an
alarm of fire was given, and in a few minutes afterwards
flames broke out at the rear of the pilot-house and nearly in
the centre of the vessel. Several of the _crew were in the
rigging, and very few persons were on dock at the time,
many of the passengers being confined to their berths by
sickness. The first, James Gibbs, and the other officers of
the vessel immediately got the fire pumps to work ; but the
flames steadily gained headway, and although the pumps
were w rked with unflinching perseverance, the fire soon.
spread over the centre portion of the deck, driving the
crew and those who were assisting them to the stern and
bow of the vessel. The hatches had been closed in conse-
quence of the decks being so constantly under water, but
those below, alarmed by the smoke which was spreading
through the cabins, rushed on deck only to be driven back
by the flames. The frightful shrieks of the women and
children, and their piteous supplications for help were
drowned by the roaring of the storm. Several of the
paroled soldiers were sick and confined to their berths.
Some of them managed to crawl on deck, and clung
there until washed overboard by the waves. In about
half an hour after the fire broke out the engines
partially stopped, and the vessel immediately swung
round with her broadside to the wind, the flames then
spreading across the deck. It had now become quite evi-
dent that the ship could not be saved. The first officer
acted with great. courage, and only abandoned the vessel
when all hopes of saving her were gonef The fire pumps
were still kept at work, and the flames were fought back
with great determination. Many of those below were
doubtless already suffocated. The shrieks and moans of
the dying came up to those on deck, but they could do
nothing to help them. Just at this time the United
States transport General Sedgwick,
Captain Starkey, and
a small schooner hove in sight. But neither of them
could tender any assistance, owing to the violence of the
storm, and the fact that the burning steamer had
drifted in towards the breakers. The flames were now
'spreading with fearful rapidity. The boats were launched,
although there appeared little hope of them living in such
a sea. into the first boat ten men lowered themselves, in-
cluding the captain of the General Lyon. It is affirmed by
several of those who escaped that the captain had lost all
control of himself, and was evidently crazed with fear.
Hardly had this boat been loosed from the vessel's side
than she drifted under her stern, was struck by the screw,
and almost instantly went down. Irah Lewis, a private
in the 89th New York Regiment,
who was in the boat at
the time, states that he saw the captain sink. Lewis
and two others alone escaped. A second boat was
launched, and in this 27 persons lowered themselves and
succeeded in reaching the General Sedg:wick, which was
about a mile and a half distant. As the boat touched the
steamer's side a wave dashed her violently against it, and
she filled and went down. Of the 27 persons in the boat,
seven only were saved. Among these were the mate, Jas.
Gibbs, Barney Losey,' and John Fitzgerald, of the 56th
Illinois. In the meantime a number of the men had
thrown themselves overboard. One man (Isaiah C.
Colby), after working at the pumps until he was almost
exhausted, seized a door one of the doors of the galley and
sprang overboard. Ho was in the water three hours
before he was picked up. Others were also in the water
for several hours, and many-doubtless sank before assist-
ance could be rendered. It is supposed that the schooner
did not succeed in rescuing any of them. When the
General Sodgivick left, being unable to render further
assistance, the ill-fated steamer was drifting in towards
the frightful breakers off Cape Hatteras. She was then
burned down to the water's edge, and every soul on board
had doubtless perished.
The New York Tribune states that the number
known to have been saved was 29, of whom 20 were
soldiers, and nine the crew of the ship. Of the 204
of the 56th Illinois Regiment on board, all but four
perished, including all the officers. Not one of the
women appears to have been saved.

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.--On Good Friday
night, about 11 45, a shocking and fatal accident occurred
at the Anerly station of the London, Brighton, and South
Coast Railway. A. train from Croydon to London was in
the act of pulling up at the station, when ono of the porters,
named Charles Palmer, attempted to jump on to the foot-
board of one of the carriages, but unfortunately missing
his_handhold, he fell under the wheels, which passed over
his loins, cutting him nearly in half. His body was at once
removed to the Royal Oak publichouse, Penge, where it
awaits an inquest,