Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-10-19
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE LOSS OF
THE UNITED STATES STEAM
FRIGATE MISSOURI.
GIDRALTAR, Aug. %, 1913.

GIBRALTAR, Aug. %, 1913.
Sir 1T has become our painful duty to
report to you that the United States Steam
Frigate Missouri, under my command has
been almost entirely destroyed by fire.
arrived here on Friday night, the 25h inst.
IN seventeen days from Norfolk, and ..a
from Fayal. The next day commenced tax
ing in coal, filling up the water ovcrhauIing
the machinery, and making the necessary
arrangements prior 10 leaving here on the
Sunday following. After paying the Gus
tomary honors to the Governor, by statutes
from the ship, the Hon. Mr.. Cushing aud
myself came on shore TO pay our personal
respects, first to our Consul, Mr.. Sprague,
who afterwards accompanied us to the
Governor, Sir Robert Thomas Wilson.
We remained on shore and spent the af-
ternoon with our Consul, intending to return
to the ship in the evening, and | had or
dered my boat to he on shore for us bv Q o.
clock. AT about 8 o'clock message was
brought 10 me that the Missouri was on fire.
l repaired without ii moments delay, to tho
only gate through which l could pass the
walls of the city. the others being, as is the
custom, closed at sunset: q learned after
wards. however. that they were all opened
by direction of the Governor, as soon as he
heard OF the fire on board the NJ am
pleased to mention here that every assistance
was rendered to US by that distinguished
gentlcmaE,as we'll as from Sir George Sara.
torius, commanding Her Britannia Majcsiy's
"a, the Mala5 ar, as will be seen by a com
munication from me to those gentlemen, a
copy of which have the honor to enclo,c,)
my boat, fortunately, had been sent rs soon
as the fire broke out, aud found her at or
near the landing place when arrived on
board, which was in about 20 minutes from
hn / 1ha
gence, found the flames raging with vic.
lence and the officers and crew eXerting
themselves to the utmost to overcome them.
Every person on board was so disposed of,
or stationed in position, where he could do
the most possible good.
The powerful pumps on board had with
alacrity been rugged, with their hose attach
ed, and were in operation those men who
were not at the pumps, were employed in
drawing and passing water in buckets, and
pouring it upon the flames. At Il single
glance, however, discovered the prudence
of flooding the after magazine, which was
Immediately done; the forward one having
nlready, very prudently, been ordered 20 be
Noeded before | reached the ship; soon af-
ter / did so, two engines in large boats, we'll
manned. came alongside. These were sent
off by Sir Robert Wilson the GovernOr,and
by the able and energetic exertions of Geroge
}Saratorius and his officers, with the seamen
from his ship, that at one time was in hopes
the devourng element was conquered, but
alas! the flatering hope was soon dissipated
by its breaking out again with increased
violence; this only increa e the energies AT
jealous efforts Ut the officers and crew OF
the Missouri, and our fri nlly auXl;aries,
until they were driven from their stations by
the flames.
When saw there was not ray Of hope
left to save that noble ship, l summoned
council of the officers, and those English of.
hcerS who were near me, to ascertain their
views; they quickly and unanimously de-
ciued, there Was no hope left of saving the
ship; therefore gave the order for every
person to quit her without delay, and with
out confusion, for by this time there was ve-
ry little space remaining for those on board
To stand clear of the flames and smoke; the
wind had increased /; and the ship was in
flames tore and aft; the crew Immediately
took to the water, and received the ready
assistance OF boats, anticipating cXigency,
from hel Britannia Majesty's Malabar, and
from the vessels in the harbor. Such was
tie state of the ship, when the officers and
crrw were compelled TO give her up; they
saved nothing but what they stood in.
After | had seen every person out Of the
ship, lowered myself down by a rope from
the s,arboard wheel house, and was taken on
board one of the boats in waiting. This oc.
Cured AT half past IL. The immense nun.
Der of boats surrounding the burning
ship at this time, were directed to pull out
of the way as fast as possible, fearing, lest
the magazines might not have been effectu.
lilly flooded, an explosion might take place
and 10 that event the loss of life would have
beeH very great. Fortunately, however, the
magazines did not explode until 3 o'clock iG
the morning, so completely were they flood
ed; and as they exploded under water the
shock was not severely felt. At the polite
invitaion Of Sir George Saratorius, the crew
were sent on board his ship, The Malabar,
and have remained there until today. |
have had them removed to Il ship chartered
for the purpose of conveying them and the
officers 10 the United States.
AS the officers and crew have, by this I'm.
fortunate and unlocked for event, been rem
dered completely destitute of clothing, and
every thing else, it has become absolutely
necessary, for the preservation of their
healths and comfort, TO have them supplied
Immediately with comfortable wearing APP
parel, and ] have directed the Purser TO
make the necessary purchases.
The ship chartered is the Rnjnh. of 60
tons, OF Boston, and bound TO that port, and
will sail in eight days from this date.
have had the crew employed, as we'll as
lighters from the shore, in saving as much of
the property as possible from the wreck the
guns, anchors, chain cables, &c. will pruba-
bly, be recovered in time to send them by
the Rajah, and all such articles as can be got
from the wreck before she sails the re.
mainder will be sent to The United States by
the next vessel which sails from here. The