The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-22

poured down through the manhole, and through a
scutte cut in the deck above the point Of greatest
and the smoke heat and odor In the engine
room we're found to diminish sensibly
1t known that the fire could have been occa-
in the coal bunker The slide the shoot below, on
the opening Of which the coal rushed out into the fire
fire having been Intentionally communicated by i'll
designing person had there had been such in the ship
The coal bunker being thoroughly flooded, the heat
and smoke had disappeared that 10 o'clock the
retreat was beat, and one watch LEFT to remove the
When the coal was all discharged beam which ran
through II found charred the depth of half an
men the OF having been exposed not
deck above 1t was likewise chsrred In the manner
for space of ten feet.
On the following night growing heat was discovered
in the larboard midship bunker, and in the adjoining
wood work One watch OF the crew turned out and
the removal of the coal commenced In getting out the
coal the part Of 1t reached where the process Of
ignition was going on Jumps Of coal taken out
sufficiently hot to be painful to touch particles had
the appearance of cnders. The presence OF sulphur
unusual quantities in this coal apparent to sight
Nothing could be finer than the display of order and
discipline and high moral courage exhibited by every
and boy in the Mississippi throughout the appalling
At one time the heat and smoke in the engine
room were perceptiby increasing in defiance Of the eff
forts made TO arrest the Of the fire. which
expected every moment to break out in flames still more
| unconquerable.
Yet in this ship, loaded with powder and shells filled
and fuzed, nothing but order, subordnation
and universal effort Of each to perform with zeal his
allotted duty. There was no noise no confusion, no
|
given with camness, and in the ordinary tone Of com
| mand
Though several foreign vessels-of-war the
Mississippi and the beat to quarters the rapid and
sounding stroke of the pumps and the smoke issuing
from the engine must have been perceptbe to the
surrounding shipping yet evident the capacity OF
the ship for the present at least to take of herself
that the compliment paid her of rendering offer
of assistance, though assistance would have doubtless
beencheerfuy rendered had the emergency been more
critical
The officers and crew of the Mssiss p have frequent
y of late been under the fire Of the enemy but the
posture with which they performed their duty bears
comparison to the moral submty ftheir bearing the
presence of this far more appalling enemy
This composure especially meritorious in the Com
modore and his acting captain, who having in other
pects the stake with the officers and crew. had be-
sides to bear the awful responsibility to the
country OF the loss by fire of the and
last Of those magnificent steamers which, though built
years ago. have not since any country
passed. If they have been equalled.
This notice is published with the motive OF putting
those who sail steamers their guard against of the
dangers that them from fuel and at the
time Of relieving any anxiety that may be felt
among those having friends board the Mississippi
any exaggerated account they may have Of the fire
board of her.