The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-10-19

have been more than rsalinad. Cotton maintains
ths fill prices offormer quotations., and has even
advanced souaswhai bsyond then. The follow
ing IL an account Of The burning Of TIE splendid
Us. steam ship MISSOURI, which had been
assigned 10 carry Mr.. Cushing Che route Of HE
embassy TO China.
LOSS OF THE u. S. STEAM |
FRIGATE MISSOURI
This splendid vessel was totally
consumed BY Gre on the night Of the
26th Of August, while taking iu coal,
at Gibraltar. Notwithstanding the
crew were finally driven overheard BY
the fury Of the flames yet no loss Of
life was sustained.
The Missouri bad arrived in Gi-
braltar the day before, aud was making
all despatch for the continuance Of her
voyage up the Mediterranean when the
FIRE broke out. The alarm was given
a few minutes before eight o'clock in
the evening, and was followed BY such
q burst OF flame as led to the beliefthat
oil or spirits WIS the cause. lmme-
diaiely on the alarm the drum SCUM
ded, the men repaired to their quarters
and every exerion was made to extin-
guish the flames. About half past
eight the FIRE seemed to have been
checked by the great volume Of water
which had been thrown upon it but
its breaking out with renewed violence
shortly afterwards, dispelled the mo-
mentary hope that the element was
conquered. This being apparent, the
locks throughout the ship we're open
ed, the after magazine was drowned
and the shells which were likely 10 ex.
plode were thrown overheard but all
attempts to get at the forward magazine
proved fruilless, from the dense body
Of smoke and fame which enveloped
il. The only hope that remained now
was that the valves 10 the water tight
divisions might be open, and that the
ship would settle far enough before
grounding TO food the powder. Sig
mails for assistance were made, and A.
bout half an hour. afterwards, boats be-
gan 10 arrive from the English seventy
four Malabar, and from the town.
Three engines we're thus added to the
force on board, and renewed efforts
1 were made TO subdue the flames, though
without any sensible effect. AT a few
minutes before eleven the whole body
Of coal being on FIRE, the flames burst
Up through the after haiches, and filled
the quaftsr dech with such masses Of
smoke, tlat she menNere forced TO re-
4 ueston the outside Of she ship for pro-
Iteetion Sir George SarIorius COM
handing the English seamen, seeing
I the state of things Al Tho period, drew
| off bis men 10 their boats. This SEEM
ed 10 be the signal for a general depar-
ture of assistance :. the word having
spread among the boats from shore thai
the magazines were about exploding,
| the ship was in a short iimo deserted
by her friends all hopes now rested on
the forward pumps which we're KEEP
going necessarily, though with scarce
4 hope for success.
At about half past eleven, the flames
having spread, rolling up the gangways
and dividing the crew into squads abou
the rigging and bowsprit-the captain
! consulted with the few officers be
could collect around him, consisting o
! one or two hsutenants, and az Euglisl
army officer, who had been lefi by iht
shore boats, and concluded upon Civ
ing the order TO the crew TO save them
} selves. The men who had been bud
died together on the bowsprit AID side
}. Of the ship, now plunged into the wa
t iet. hanging on BY the buoys and rope.
: until they were relieved by assistance
!. The ship continued to burn through
a out the night, presenting one Of lht
grandest spectaeles, occasionally re
z lieved by explosion Of heavy shells
, and tho scattering Of fragments. Abou
e Q o'clocks, some Of the tanks in tn
forward magazine blew up with a ter
Fible conclusion, breaking in man,
windows in the town. and creating 9th
ef damage around.
i Welfare happy 10 learn however,tha
= Mr.. Gushing saved all bis valuable Ell
n lects in the early part ofthe fire. Hi
departute was only delayed for III
!, English steamer OF the 9Th, in whic
e vessel he left for Alexandra. The OIL
y icers and crew lost everything exceT
Q the clothes they had on.
A subsequent investigation prove
that the Ere originated in the engin
room from spirits Of lurpentine, whic
= had run down from one Of the stcr
10 rooms above.
in In the last columbus Democrat" we o.
d served a contemplate squib, signed, "The wiz