Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-10-13

Loss or THE L. S. STEAM FRIGArE Ms
soURI--Wc find in the English papers received
BY the Acadia, the following account of the dc.
siruc,ion by fire o! the Steam Frigatc Missouri,
in the Bay Of GIbraltrr:
We regret TO have to announce the total de.
stric;!on. by fire, o! the splendid American
steam frigatc Missouri, while at anchor in Glib
raltar Bay, on Sept. 9th. She had the Hon. Mr..
Gushing on board, proceeding TO Alexandria, en-
route for China. AS minister.
The alarm was. first given Il, cigh, o'clock pre-.
cise.y, and was immediately followed by such
burst of fame from the engerc,r's store room as
10 lead to the belief that it originated among the
oil and spirits Every cxertnn was made 10 sub
due it, ard the large pumps were instantly in
operation; but the progress OF the flames was so
rapid, that it became necessary to flood the two
magazines. which was done SO eiiectnally, that
it was not until twenty minutes after three A.
NJ, that any explosion took place and then not
t. an extent to endanger the shipping in the
bay, the nearest OF which had already been re-
moved BY the eXerio1s o. the acting captain Of.
the port.
Assistance was promptly sent from the Maa-
bar, under the personal superintendent u! 81
Geotge Sar,orus and the Locust got up her
steam and ran alongside tho Missouri, with the
view OF wing Der to deeper wafer, or rendering
! any OilleT l'u UUl SI!c
grounded, which rendered it impossible to scut-
tic her.
! As soon as lie fire broke "ut, the Governor
ordered the waterproof gate TO be opened, and
proceeded himself, to the wharf, from whence
he despatched two englCes under charge Of the
artillery and sappers bat in spite OF the united
efforts OF the crew of the Missouri and her friend
~ auXisarles, the Pn'gFess ri the Times, winch
al one time appeared to be got under, was such
that at length Capt. Newton was forced 10 ahan.
don his ship, after snnmonng council OF his
officers end those British officers about him. who
unanimously decided there was m hope Of saw
ing the ship.
The order was then given by Capt. Newtof
for all to qait the ship. which was done lmmed
atcly by the crew taking the wafer, and rccel"
ing the assistance of the boats sent, in an,icipa
ton of the eXigency, from the Maabar, and from
the vessels in the harbor Such was the STATE
of the ship, when tile officers and crew left her
that they saved nothing but what they had on
Capt Newton did not quit the ship until all ha
left her, about a quarter past IL o'clock. w
are happy to add that the officers and crew ar
believed TO be all saved.
His Exec lcncy the American Minister, aftc
securing his papers of Importance, returned
the shin and zcalously united his efforts 10 thos
of her officers.
The line wall was crowded until very lat
hour with spectators anxiously watching tn
fate of the noble ship. The sight was awful
grand until the nasis at length fell overheard
the tracery OF her spars and shrouds standing OF
, in bright relief against the dark sky, was beau
full. The whole rock was as light as day; an
, probab such sight has not been Witnessed
The bay since the conlfagra'lon OF the fioa,in
, batteries in the memorable siege.
, We trust that It will not be considered pre-
= sumptuous to refer 20 the discipline on board
= this Inflated vessel; but, IA persons, employc
;. along side during the progress Of the calamli
a and on whose veracty we can place the utmo
# reliance; have been desirouslof hearing und
r niable testimony on this most important subjet
N we beg to inform our readers that they descrll
D. the discipline and order on board as most adm
l. able the several orders were given and ODE
10 ed as if the vessel had been in perfect safet
re and nothing had occurred to excite alarm Or CO
y. fusion"