The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1843-10-20
Total Destruction Of the United states steam
RrIgoiC Missouri by FIRE.

! OtIi OF the Nnttcd states steam
ErIgotC Missouri by Fire.
The steamship Acadia, which arrived a, Boston
on the f.h inst, brings the intelligence of the to.
tai destruction by fire or Gibral,er, rof one of the
finest vessels of which the United States navy
could boast, having cost the nation between Ave
and six hundred thousand dollars.
The Missouri carried % guns. and was
pierced for IT, The crew was entirely
saved through tie active intervention of
her Maiesty's steamer Locust, which i'm
medialely repaired to the spot, attracted
by a spectacle OF such extraordinary and
disastrous brllancy. The burning vessel
threw glare over the entire rock, illumi-
mating in the midst Of the night the various
points and batteries, and throwing It's re-
.ectiou over the bay as far as Algesiras
The black hull and dark spars and rigging
stood out in the immense glare of light
with a fine but portcntous effect, and the
roar of the fire was intermimgled with the
discharge of guns of distress, which soon,
however, ceased in the despair created by
the awful rapidity with which the flames
increased their ravages, and made all hu-
man efforts unayaiIiug. The Locust got
up her steam Immediately, and arrived
Just in time TO rescue the crew from the
fate which awaited them. SO rapid was
the progress of the flame from the mo-
ment it burst forth, that by the time the
Locust had reached her side she had burnt
down nearly 10 the waters edge. The
Missouri had on board a very large guam
tity Of gunpowder, and to prevent the dam
gerous effects OF an explosion, it was judy
ed advisable to scuttIe her, which was
successfully accomplished without delay,
when she Instantly disappeared.
The Missouri was bound for Canton,
with the new Ambassador sent from the
United States to The Emperor of China,
together with the gentlemen of his embas-
sy and suite. The fire was occasioned
by the combustion of the large cargo Of
coal which the Missouri was obliged TO
carry. The combustion had been gong
on for a considerable time, and upon MS
discovery a quantity of water was thrown
upon the coal, which had the effect Of APP
parently eXtinguishIng the flame. But it
was, in fact, only smolhered; and upon
It's breaking out a second time, II was
found to have gained such head that
no effects could arrest It's progress.-
How the fire was first communicated 10
the mass of coal has not yet been ascer-
taned.-rhe fire engines were worked
with great vigor, and other means rcsor-
ted to but in vain. BY dlnt Of considerable
exerDons many valuable effects were saw
ed and put on board the Locust, includ-
ing $4,000 OF specie. The vessel was
of immense capacity, her register being Of
nearly 1000 tons, and her crew was very
numerous.
The following particulars are from the
Glbralter Chronicle -
The alarm was first given at eight
o'clock precisely, and was Immediately
followed by such burst Of flame from the
engineers store room rs to lead to the be-
lief that it originated among the oil and
spirits. Every eXertion was made to sub
due ii, and the large pumps were instan-
tly pu, in operation; but the progress OF
the flames was SO rapid, that ii became
necessary TO flood the two magazines,
which was done so efiectualy, that it was
not until twenty minutes after three A. NJ.
that any explosion took place, and then
not to an extent to endanger the shipping
in the bay, the nearest of which had al
ready been removed by the eXertlons Of
the acting captain of the port.-AssIstance
was promptly sent from the Malabar, un-
der the personal superintendent OF Sir
George Sartorlus; and the Locust got up
her steam and ran along side the Mssou-
ri, with the view of towing her into deep
err water, or rendering any other aid but,
unfortunately, she had already grounde 4
which rendered i! impossible to scUllle
her.
As soon as the fire broke out, the gov.
ernor ordered the waterproof gate to be
opened, and proceeded himself to the
wharf, from whence he despatched two
engines under charge of the artillery and
sappers; but in spite Of the united efforts
of the crew of the Missouri and her friend
Iy auxlliaries, the progress of the flames,
which at one time appeared to be got UNI
der, was such, tina, at length Captain
Newton was forced to abandon his ship,
after summoning a council of his own Of
fcers and those British officers about him,
who unanimously decided there was no
hope of saving the ship.
The order was then given by Captain
Newton for all to quit the ship, which
was done Immediately by the crew taking
| A. ,,,ta. ,nI ,ana;vin,r tho rpnIy assi- a..