Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-23

make up my mind to get in her, as i thought she
wonid be filled. thought the chunce was that she
would 90 the same way ss the o hers; what became
on hsr 40 NOT Know, for the fire gained so much
tnat was o1hged to z, away from that part. thea
wen' Al. 70 the main deck, and they were a. work
with the hose: think it on 10 the force
pump: The smoke was so dense that l could hardly
see what they were about, and think that at that
time the communication was cut off fore and aft. =
From the time OF the first alarm to the time am
speaking of, 1t may have been fifteen or twenty mi
nutes; and about that time the engine stoned. |
suggested to the hands to throw the cotton over
board, which they did, and helped to get il out
said we Lad to do something, aud that too pretty
soon the best refuge, in my opinion, said was the
cotton; got out all that was not on re on the lar
board side of the boat; there were ten or twelve
bales put over and | cut off four or five fathom Of
line, and attached it to the last bale that was not ON
fire; it "A fiat square bale Of the ordinary size:
put the rope round the middle and took round turn
with the rope after we had it the rail- and then
slipped it off and got it ourselves below the guard
by Of the rope; then lowered ourselves and
the bale into the water The boat at this time Law
head to the shore, with the wind on her broad side
we were the larboard side of the boat under her
lee; this was ten minutes after the engine stopped
We set on the bale of cotton, facing each other and
IT 1oated about onethird out of the water; the wind
was pretty fresh and the boat drifting about
knot and half; we looked out for some hing to steer
her with, but first we wo1ad up the ropes by which
we had lowered the bale from the wreck My com.
panion opposed leaving the wreck, but was de-
termlned not to stay and be burned, and we showed
the bale around the stern of the steamer. The
boat then drifted from us, and perhaps got knot
and half from her. That was at 8 p. NJ, because
noted the time; got then piece of board that
would enable me to keep the cotton wiadwavd; at
tn time, should suppose, nearly every BODY had
leftthe boat for the ladies' cabin all fire; but
| one lady and two three other person. on
board. The reason why noticed this lady was be-
cause her child appeared to be floating the water;
we passed 1t quite close, so that Ieeuld have put
my hand on ii as it lay on its back the mother saw
us and sang out for US to it. We then drift ed
away, and could see exceut fireman on the
forecastle. Should have judged it to have been
girl from its dress. 1t was quite dead, and we did
not attempt to get at it, Cannot rbe the lady, or
recollect the words she said. The fact is had nv
hands full te take care of the bale of cotton. MY feet
OF course were in the water, and was wet up 10 the
middle. We kept in sight Of the boat until she sank
which was at A M should say we were above
mile oil her at that time. At the time we left the
boat it was ell udy, but 1t cleared Off and the moon
shone ont and we had fine night ! noted the time
about every half hour. II was not so intensely cold
but 1t required great exertions to keep the blood in
circulation beat my hands together and took
other means for that object About A M the bale
capsIzsd, III consequence Of heavy swell it went
right over endways, bat we both managed 10 get up
1T again. and then had lost the piece of board
and the bale became ungovernabe. My companion
complained of the cold from the first setting out and
did not seem to have that spirit about him that he
ought to have had. He kept troubling him self abont
things be had no business to mind at that time. His
name was Cox, and his wife lived at No. II Cherry
street, After the capsize he did not seem to have
vest he had only flannel shirt and trow sers boots
and cap /; he of the firemen on board the
Lexington. think he fell off about two hours after
the bale had upset for the last half hour Cox had
been stupid, and had lost all use Of his hands aud he
could not hold on to the bale. did what could TO
Keep his blood in circulation, bat without effect -
The sea continued very rough, and obliged 10
have hold ofthe rope to keep self the bale was
broadside to the sea, and had much ado to keep
1t steady; at last he slipped off and sunk without a
struggle got then more on to the head of the bae
to make ii more steady, and continued there until
picked up For the last hour it was so smooth that
got on the bail altogether and sat down. il
was about half past six, A.. when the man fell Off
When saw the sieop waved nv hat to excite their
attention, and they bore down and picked me up;
she was the Merchant, from Southport, Capt. Nee
ken; he asked me il knew Of any others, and made
other inquiries Of me, as he had come Cut on pur-
pose to If he could render any assistance They
are entitled TO great credit for know Of no other
persons who have done so, except the steamer
Statesman. Captain NJ. had to take out part of his
cargo, in orderto get the sloop over the bar. 1t
was morning before he could this Ii was
about eleven A. nj. when | was picked up, as the
sloop had 10 beat down 10 wind The sloop
had been in 10 speak the Light Boat off Eaton's
Neck, and to ask her crew if thew coald point out
whereabouts the fire occurred. The captain Of the
sloop paid me every attention, and then went TO
cruise after any other sufferers They pisked up
two men alive, and two dead bodies One was Man.
chester, the pilot. think he a bale Of cot
ton The other was Charles Smith ne was on the
wheel house. The pilot was picked up first while
was peiow should say they were both found
within half an hour after was board the sloop.
The pilot was pretty much gone, and i thought the
other seemed better. They put them both TO bed
Smith was fireman board the Lexington, and
have heard that he belonged TO Norwich, Con-
Decucut. We continued our cruize for three hours,
and then beat up to Southport. One Of the dead
bodies they said was piece Of the wheel
house, aud the other on piece Of the wreck. The
steamer Nimrod overlook us in the course Of the
morning, ard went on in her 10 Bridgeport /
went ashore there, and went TO tho house Of
capt DAVIS, who is an acquaintance Of mine staid
there that night, and the next morning got in the
steamer Nmrod and came TO New York.
Coroner-Hcw did Capt Childs appear, when at
the wheel house
Witness-Why he was confused.
Coroaer-What did he say7
Witness-He sale nothing that l heard, but that
he was running for the lard
BY the Jury.-That was the last time saw him,
and am inclined TO think he was sugocated at the
Wheel from the fact Of his not being afterwards.
With regard to the tIller ropes, am Of opinion
they burnt of; but know nothing positive about it
or how 1 acquired that opinion; i had converse.
ton with the man hat was the bale Of cotton
specting the origin Of the fire. 1 did not examine
when the quarter boats were lowered away: did not
see any OF the other officers Of the Geek except the
captain; think that man could have got AFT after
the lie at cut away.
went alt OF the gangway, but did not any Of the
men or officers Of the deck attic nptiBg to ship the
tiiler cannot say If IL shipped not; in fact,
don't know any thing about il. do Hot know how
near the cotton to the wheel house. The engine
may have worked five minutes after the pilo left the
Wheel II IL was him that left and got the life boat
mad talk with Captain Vanderbilt, and nay have
said that when first the fire, two three buck
cts OF water would have put IL out should not like
perhaps, to say little; but do think that il might
have been got under with but a little trouble. 1