Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-10-13

good conduct, and o! whom VIII speak again III u"e
communication.
have the happiness 10 inform you that all the cre'
of The Missouri saced citout single accident &C
curing 10 any 81 thtW
IT. on review of all the circumstances CONNECTED
with tins disastrous occurrence, you, Sir, should deem
expedient that Court Of Inquiry should be directed
investigate the facts in ths should be much g'a
| tilted IL such should be adopted
| have the honor 10 be,
Mos; respectfully,
Your very obedient servant,
JOHN THOMAS NEWTON,
Hon. DAVID HESsuAw, Captain.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington
THE MISSOURI
Extracts Of a despatch from Ike Hon. Mr. Gushing Il
| the Secretary IF State.
GIBRALTAR, August So 1913
Sir have the honor to state tina, arrived here IN
the Missouri on the evening Of the 25th inst.
II was the intention of Capt. Newton 10 stop here
for two three days only, and then proceed Directly
| 10 Alexandria.
But on the evening Of the 26;h instant, at about
o'clock, the Missouri took FIRE, end, notwithstanding
the strenuous exerons OF Captain Newton his officers
| aud crew, efficiently and zaaous!y aided by SIR h"ot
| Wilson, the Governor Of Gibraltar, from on shore,
and by Sir George Sartorius, of Her Britannia Ma
esss line of battle ship Maabar with his officers and
men TO extinpu,sh the flames, the Missouri vas IN
the of the night, consumed 10 the waters edge,
and lies hlackened wreck, aground in the bay
of Gibraltar.
beg leave to refer TO the official letters of Captain
New,oa 10 the Secretary Of the Navy, for crcun
s,anal account of the origin aud progress OF the de-
plorab!e by which this fine ship, after an emf
nently prosperous voyage across the ATLANTIC, iuiiy
testing her efficiency as an ocean steamer, mas Deen
lost 10 the Navy of the U. States. AT the same time,
there attending this disaster,
winch 1t may be desirable and proper 10 have comnu
nicated to you by me-
1t seems be satisfactorily ascertained that the fire
originated in accident, which foresight or care
IN the part of the commander officers OF The MIS-
suuI' could have prevented
deem it my duty to bear witness, as can from per
sonai observation, to the zeal, energy, skill, and un-
shaken courage wbic Captain Newton and his officers
manifested this trying occasion IN directing ana ac'
lively participating IN Tie perseverng !abors ot lhe
ships company 10 stay The course oil the devourng
flames. fire on shpboafj, is always an accident
demanding the utmost vi gor. presence Of mlnd and
ready Judgment the part of those whose lot 1t may
be 10 encounter il, from The nammabe nature of the
materials of which the ship constructed, and the d'l>
hcul;y of meeting the flames at every point he dan
gers and difficulties of the emergency, are oil course
infinitely augmented when fire occurs OF board man
Of war; by of The great quantity of gunpowdei
in various forms, which she contains as the essential
part Of her warke equipment; OF which, III spite
of every precaution may take fire and explode deVo
ting every board. 10 inevitable and instant de
stTurtion But, amid all the hotrrs OF the scene, The
the last, aud until only every hope of saving the
ship at an end, but the spread OF the flames hac
extended far as 10 render II physically impossible
protract the endeavor 10 extlngush them. Nothing
remained lhen but TO attend 10 the preservation OF The
lives Of the officers and and alter all the men hat
been embarked in The ships boats, and in others a
hand, Captain Newton and his officers then followed
himself the last TO quit the Missouri.
And, am happy to say, that although it was up
pretended at first, that life or lives nigh, hav'
been lost, yet, on careful muster having been TIN
day made Of the ships company, it was found tina
e1ery Of the crew was present and answered Il
his name
| beg leave, also, to ask your attention TO the fac
Of the Jealous operation of The British authorize
al GIBRALTAR in the attempt to subdue the flames AM
ship; as ALSO to the Tact, of the promptude and cor
dlaty which they have displayed IN profering all pos
sble assistance TO Capt. Newton and to myself.
SIR Robert Wilson, the Governor Of Gibraltar, on re
ceiving intelligence Of the fire, Immediately repaired
to the Mole and emaned there, himself superinte nd
ing person the despatch of boats and fire engine
from the shore TO the Missouri and atford'ng all as
sslance in his power occasion offered, until he hat
ascerained that the whole Of the ships company hat
been taken off
| II g. NJ. line of battle ship Malabar, commanded b.
Captain Sir George Sartor,us, who IS also Wee Ad
mural IN the Portuguese Navy, was the only Of
except the Missouri, happening at thu time to D.
10 The bay OF Gibraltar Sir George Sartorus prompt
ly repaired TO the Missouri with portion OF his "tcer
and men, in person aided Captain Newton and his off
GERS and in struggling against the fire and takn
of the men, and hospitality received large part Q
them on board the Malabar until Captain Newton coul
make arrangements for their permanent accommoda
ton elsewhere Since which SIR George Sartotiu
has also freely offered Captain Newton TO furnish
him sopa, supplies, or any thing else OF uss to him
/ from he Gn,th Government stores.
la all these acts of hospitality and sympathy on IN
part OF the officers of the British Government here,
ought 10 add Tint The proer was made 10 me OF pro
v,dng for me passage to Alexandra at once IN put
l,c ship which offer OF course respectfully declined
In view of SO mnch hearty and important assis'anc
afforded pr rendered 10 Captain Newton and myself b
the officers of her Britannia Ma esty here, apPcare
10 me To BE- proper, and an act oi public duty on m
part, 10 make 10 SIR Rober, Wilson aud to SIR Georg
Sarorius official Acknowledgements for acts perform
ed by them Of succor not TO individuals merely as sucl
bu, also officers aud servants Of the Government
v thu United States.
subjon copies of the correspondence which ensue
r between myself and these gentlemen respectively
Y Nhi'e thus making known TO you the friendly spr
displayed on this occasion hv The officers OF her Br
,anu'c Majesty here, ought no, to omit to speak
the Jealous and incessant exerlions of MIR Sprague
/ the eminently respectable and excellent Consul
the United States at Gibraltar, who not only exerte
himself TO the utmost officially and individually, o
the night of the Goth instant bat VINO has dedicate
his whole time 10 The task Of aeria,ng the persona
ms'ortunes oil his counrymen, and encrgcticaiiy
operating with Captain Newton in the of The put
/ lie property remaining on The wreck Of the Missouri
, and in the preparation of for the relief Of tn
officers and crew, and their restoration 10 the Unite
STATES cannot commend too highly the deportmen
Of Mr. Sprague this occasion; and his general cha
rsctcr and social standing such enable him
snaspfve The mos. etieciua manner the interests
his Government.
/ have to add that have taken passage for Aexan
dra in the steam packet "Orental," which convey
the mail from England 10 Egypt, and by which inca n
shall reach my destination at The time shcul
have done, if the Missouri had continued her voyag
~ the Mediterranean. The Oriental will sail fror
Gibraltar the 9Th at September.
), A'ttnugh have sustained heavy loss III he de
strurt,rn 81 large quantity of personal feels o
board the Missouri, yet esteem myself fortunate, in
asmuch have saved the papers and other object.
essentially apper:alDing TO my mission. | vii,
Captain Newton at the house Of the American Consu
at the time the FIRE broke out, but Immediately fol
I'd TIC shin md har