The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-10-08
The Destruction of the Missouri.

The Destruction of the Missouri.
Mr. Gushing, the American Minister to China,
who went out in the ill faed Missouri, has made
report the Secretary of State OF the destruction
of that vessel, and has also transmitted copies OF
correspondence. which passed between him and the
Governor of Gibraltar, and Vice Admiral Sir
George Sartorius, of H. B. M. ship Malabar, in
lation to the exertions which they made to reader
services to our countrymen in their emergency
Mr. Cushing's letter to Mr. Upshur details the main
facts, as they were reported by Captain Newton
he also bears evidence of the energy skill, and I'M
shaken courage of Captain Newton, his officers and
crew, and then says
beg leave ALSO to ask your attention to the fact of
the Jealous cooperation Of the British authorities at
Gibraltar the attempt subdue the fames and in the
Of the ships company from the burning ship; as
also to the fact Of the promPtitade and corSlay which
to Captain Newton and to myself.
Sir Robert Wilson, the Governor of Gibraltar
cevng intelligence OF the fire, Immediately repaired TO
the Mole and remained there, himself experimenting in
person despatch of boats and fire engines from the
shore the Missouri and aordng all assistance his
power, as occasion offered, until he had ascertansd
that the whole OF the ships company had been taken
II. B. NJ. line of battle ship Malabar, commanded by
Captain Sir George Sartorius who is also Vice Admiral
in the Portuguese Navy the only owar, except
the Missouri happening at the time to be in the bay of
Gibraltar Sir George Sartorius promptly repaired the
Missouri with portion Of his officers and men, in person,
aided Captain Newton and his officers and in strug
Cling against the fire and taking oft the men, and hospi
taby received large part of them on board the Malabar
permanent accommodation elsewhere Since which, Sir
George sartorus has, also freely offered Captain New.
ton to furnish him Stops supplies or any thing else ofuse
to him, from the British government stores
In all these acts of hospitality and sympathy the part
of the officers fthe British Government here, ought to
add that the prcer made to me Of providing for
passage to Alexandria in public ship, which Of
fer, OF course respectfullyIdeclned
orded or rendered to Captain Newton and myself by the
officers OF B. M here appeared to me to be proper and
an act OF public duty on my part to make 70 Sir Robert
dgment for acts performed by them of succor not to
divduas merely SUCH but also, as officers and
wants OF the Government Of the United States
suboin copies OF the correspondence which ensued be-
tween myself and these gentlemen respectively
While thus making known you the friendly spirit dis
play cd this by the officers OF H. b M here
ought not to omit speak of the jealous and ncessant
excellent consul Of the United States at Gibraer who
not only exetted himselfto the utmost officially and dI
ydua on the night OF the a6th instant but who has de-
Dictated his whole time to the task of alternating the per-
sonsl misfortunes of his counrymen and theoretically
cooperating with Captain Newtoa in the OF the pub
in the preparation OF for the relief of the officers
crew and their restoration to the United States
this occasions and his general character and social
ing such enable him to subserve i'll the most eff
fectual manner the interests of his government.
have TO add that have taken passage for Alexandria
in the steam packet Oriental which conveys the mail
from England to Egypt and by which shall reach
my destination the time should have done if the
Missouri had continued her voyage up the Mediterranean
The Oriental will sail from Gibraltar the 7th Of Sep
TENDER.
Although have sustained heavy loss in the desruc-
ton of large quantity Of personal effects on board the
Missouri yet esteem myself fortunate inasmuch as
have saved the papers and other objects essentially ap
pertaining to my mission. was with Captain Newton,
the house OF the American Consul at the time the fire
broke out, but Immediately followed him on board the
ship in private boat and, having secured the trunk
containing my official papers, and delveredto Sir Robert
Wilson message from the ship to the succors needed
returned to aid possible, in the only thing within
my competence, that is to to take into my boat (as
did, OF the crew in what plainly was the ap
the Missouri. tits a most happy circumstance that
succeeded in saving the papers ofhe Legation as other
wise, il would have been indispensable for me TO wait
here three months perhaps return to the Uni
ted States for set Of thus delaying the pro-
secution the objects Of the mission to degree which
would have involved long train OF inconvenience and
the which would have been deeply der
mental to the public interests.
Captain Newton having been ofthe opinion in which
opinion fully concurred that his duty TO lose
time in announcing to the Government the destruction OF
the Missouri has concluded to despatch Lieutenant Win
slow his officers TO the United States by the way
Of England My letters will be entrusted ase to his
hands, and would respectfully refer you to Lieut. Win
slow for personal information in regard to the destruction
Of the Missouri
have the honor be, with great respect, your obc
dent servant,
(Signed) C. CUSHING.
Hon. A. p. UPsHuR, Secretary Of State.