The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-09

GIBRALTAR, August 30, l843.
SIR have the honor TO state that ! arrived here
in the Missouri on the evening of the 25th inst.
1t was the intention Of Captain Newton to stop
here for two three days only and then proceed d.
rectly 10 Alexandria.
But on the evening Of the Goth instant, at about
O'Clock, the Missouri took fire. and, notwitbstand-
ing the strenuous exerlions of Captain Newton, his
officers and crew, efficiently and zealously aided by
Sir Robert Wilson, the Governor of Gibralter from
on shore, and by Sir George Sartorius, of II. b. NJ
lineof battle ship Malabar with his officers and men,
TO extinguish the flames, the Missouri was, in the
course Of the night consumed to the waters edge,
and now lies a blackened wreck aground in the bay
of Gibraltar.
beg leave to refer to the official letters Of Captain
Newton to the Secretary Of the Navy, for a circum-
stantia account of the origin and progress Of the de-
plorable event. by which this fine ship, after emf
nently prosperous voyage across the Atlantic fully
testing her efficiency ocean steamer, has been
lost to the Navy Of the United States. At the same
time, there are some circumstances attending this
disaster which it may be desirable and proper TO have
communicated to you by me.
II seems TO be satisfactorily ascertained that the
fire originated in accident which no foresight
on the part of the commander officers of the
Missouri could have prevented.
deem it my duty to bear witness, | from
personal observation, to real energy skill, and un-
shaken courage, which Captain Newton and his off.
manifested this trying occasion, in directing
and actively participating in the persevering abors
OF the ships company to stay the of the de-
vouring flames A fire on ship board is alw Us an &C.
old den tba r.
and ready judgment the part Of those whose lot
may be to encounter it, from the innammabIe nature
of the materials Of which the ship constructed and
the difficulty Of meeting the flames at every point
The dangers and difficulties Of the emergency are Of
course infinitely augmented when a fire oc
ours on board of war by reason OF
the great quantity Of gunpowder in various forms,
which she contains the essential pat of her war
like equipment, Of which, in spite of every pre-.
caution, may take fire and explode, devoting every
man on board TO inevitable and instant destruction.
But, amid all the horrors of the scene, the comman-
der, officers and struggled manuy TO The last,
and until not only every hope Of saving the ship
end, but the spread Of the flames bad extended so
far TO render it physically impossible to protract
the endeayor to extinguish them. Nothing remained
them but to attend TO the preservation of the lives of
the officers and crew and, after all the men had
been embarked in the ships boats, and in others at
hsnd, Captain Newton and his officers then followed
himself the last to quit the Missouri
And am happy TO say that, although il was APP
pretended at first that life or lives might have been
lost, yet, on careful muster having been this day
made of the ships company, it was found that erey
man of the present and answered TO his
beg leave also, TO ask your attention to the fact
of the jealous cooperation Of the British authorities
at Gibraltar in the attempt to subdue the flames and
in the rescue OF the ships company FROM tic burning
ships as, Also to the fact Of the prempttude and cor.
dallty which they have displayed in profering all
possible assistance to Captain Newton and to myself
Sir Robert Wilson, the Governor of Gibraltar on
receiving Intelligence Of the fire, Immediately repaired
TO the Mole and remained there, himself superin-
ending in person the despatch Of boats and fire en-