Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-10-09
VOLUME 30. NUMBER S..

came alongside These were Off by Sir Rober, vii
son. the Governor and by the able and energetic
OF SIR George Sarorius and his officers with the ..,.
from his ship at ono time hopes the dovourng ee
Eent was conquered. but alas hatering hone
isipnted by its breaking again with increased violence
s only increased the energies and es of the officer.
and crew of the Missouri and our friendly NIL
they were driven from their stations by the flames
81" 'nere was not OF hope left save tho
hooIe SNIP summoned council Of the officers and hu.e
Lgh ohcers who were near ascertain their views
ihey quickly and unanimously decided there was no hon.
~ saving he SNIP therefore gave the order for every
person 10 quit her without delay and without any confusion
Tor by this time there very little space remainng for
those on board osand clear Of the flames and smoke the
wind had increased and the ship in flames fore and
alt The crew Immediately took to the wafer and reeei,
cd the ready assistance Of boats anticipating the
from her Britannia Maestys ship Malabar and from IN.
vessels IN the hsrbor Such the the ship when
he ocers and crew compelled TO give her nm ba,
they saved nothing but what they stood in
After had every person out OF the shin low,rsd
myself down by rope from the starboard wheclhousc
anu was taken on board of the boats waiting Th
occurred ut half past III O'clock The immense number of
ooats surrounding the burning ship time direct
60 pun out OF the way as fast possible, fearing lest
the magazines might not have been effectuay flooded nm
explosion might tuke place; and that event the loss of
NE would have been great. Fortunately however the
magazines did explode until O'Clock in the morning
So completely were they flooded; and they exploded u
der water, the shock severely felt AT the nolte
invitation OF Sir George Satoras the crew were sen, on
board ms SHIP the Malnbar and have remained there until
today have had them removed a ship chartered for
the purpose OF conveying them and officers to the u
AS TIE officers and have, by this unfortunate mod
unookedor event, been rendered completely destitute of
clothing and every thing else il has become absolutely n.
cessary, for the preservation of their health and co ~
have them supplied Immediately with comfortable wearing
apparel and have directed the Purser make the neces
sary purchases.
The ship chartered is the Raa of 600 tons of Boston
ahd bound to that port, and will sail eight DAYS from ,h.
date have had the EMPLOYED as well "a lighters
from the shore, in saving much of the properv ne
DE IRON the wreck the guns anchors chain cables &c
vi" probably be recovered in time them by the Ra
/ III and n SIchnF farlaC l..
she sails; the remainder will be the United States
by the next vessel which sails from this The machiner
ooe's ana many valuable parts will be recovered After
saving Ill thatls valuable can be of whatever
Will request MI Sprague, Consul To sell the
/ TO the best advantage.
Until today have not been enabled to ascertain any ga
tsiacory evidence how the fire originated The I
lowing sir is the testimony of three co,lbpave,s ,L
were Al WORK at the time in the engine ROOM and in the VI
ciny where the hre broke out will the circums,an
ces IN he own words, taken down as thew related the m
John Sutton states About ten minutes 10 eignt o,coc
went IN the starboard Engineers sore-room with gob
lantern geta pair OF beam scales weigh coal which
they were al that time taking in getting down the scaa
wrench fell and broke glass demohn containing spiri,
oil turpenine; wiped up much a. could. then ,ys,,
do" 10 the cylinder where they work. TO see how
much oil the spirits had run down. | was on nv wnv IN
the Che Engineer to report the circumstance of breakn
the demohn and had just got the berth deck ladde1
ana had not reached the deck before heard the cy
Ie turned round immediately, saw the flame hr-,
ing up through the graings above the steam cbes ,an o.
Deck got hcbucke and endeavored to extinrush IN,
! flames" o
William ]. Williams 81 was bv the starting b,r.
IN inc engine room at work the outside of the cvnder
we heard something dripping down. and we sung our IN
sutton NOT 10 be dropping his here for there was
usually bucket Of water kept in the above
he said you need not be afraid no more would be con
down we went in work. and the first thing bsarS
Clum sing out hire at the same time the fame burst
up suddenly from the felt and canvass which y,s aroS
the steainchest jumped with Cum to the steam cbss,
and pipe, and endeavoring haul the felt off which -
were not able to do; then to work TO inv and
unguish it, ~ ~ ga
Alfred Clum states -" was at work putting The cov.,
" me CYLINDER saw something like water dripping down:
and sung out TO Sutton who in the store abov
ne said something which did not understand 7 h.d =
light near me, and the wafer, as supposed il 10 ba ~
nearly wet through the felt and canvass which yrns
The steam-chesi when it fell down upon nv amp which
was below Immediately the whole felt and vas T.;
sheet OF lame, and, together with Williams ,,;sd .,
haul the ielt off, but could succeed the flame b,,ed
up ana caught the boards which made the flooring of the
store-room Immediately above il impossible 10 yor
about the packings OF the cylinders with a lantern"
lhere no doub, my mind sir as to the correctness
u he ABOVE statements, and TO that circumstance alone
must we attribute the dreadful calamity which has ovs,
whelmed myself and officers with the deen.st ana -,
painful FEELINGS the destruction OF our noble ship
Dulng the sad and melancholy scene am happy in bav
ing II IN my power 10 bear testimony to the zeal and firm
ness OF all the officers. They evnced on This trvin
sion coolness which does them infinite credit and e
honorable to themselves and to the service
The crew also did their duty like men and desorvo ,li
OF uer country; there are three ts who were parteu
ay distinguished for their jealous efforts and good condn
and OF whom will speak again another communicston
nave inc happiness to inform you that ALL THE CREW of
the missouri were SAVED without single accident
to any Of them. 'ui''"s
IT, on review of all the circumstances connected with
ms disastrous occurrence you should deem il eSnedient
mat Court OF Inquiry shoud be directed to
Se 10 the cnse should be much gahed ii such course
should be adopted e
nave the honor to be, most respectfully your very ODE
-, JOHN THOMAS NEWTON, Captain.
Hon. DAVID HEysHAw
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington
BOOTS, SHOES AND TRUNKS.
Chem for ra.I,