Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-09-30
FIRE AT SEA.
Loss of the Packet Ocean Monarch
One Hundred and Seventy Lices Lost!

brings accounts of the burning of the packet
shin Ocean Monarch, which left Liverpool
on the oath uIt., bound for Boston, with
cabin. % second cabin, and $50 steerage pas
sengers. making with the crew total OF o9s
persons on board. The account as furnish
ed the New York papers, says
She had not proceeded far, before the ut
most CONSERVATION was produced by an an
lnouncement that the ship was on fire, and
scarcely had the alarm been given, when she
was in a complete blaze. The scene which
followed may be more easily conceived than
described-the passengers became ffantlc
with despair, and numbers at once plunged
into the ocean to escape the more awful
death which apparently awaited them
Husbands were thus severed from their
wives and wives from their husbands, anu
children from their parents. The Captain,
finding that all control over the poor crea-
lures was gone, and that the fire was making
rapid progress, ordered both anchors to he
lowered in the hopes of bringing the vessels
head to the wind In the act of lowering
the anchors many of the unfortunate passen-
gers were dragged into the ocean, they hav-
L inc seated themselves ON the chain cables,
and were thus launched into eternity. At
the time the fire was discovered the vessel
was about eight miles to the eastward OF the
great Orms Head, and several vessels were
in SIGHT. signal of distress was at once
boisted, which was Immediately answered
Ibv Yacht belonging TO Thomas Lttledale,
and which was about six miles distant; MIR.
I.ittledale was himself on board, aud at once
bore down to render what assistance was IN
his power-there was stiff breeze blowing,
and had the Yacht ventured alongside, it
would have been total destruction TO all on
board. A boat was, however, Immediately
provided and proceeded to the ship for the
purpose of rescuing some of the unfortunate
passengers. =,
The scene which presented itself TO Mr..
L,ittledale on nearing the vessel was one
most appalling and harrowing-that gentle
man truly described it as awful, and such as
he homes never to witness again. The flames
were burning with intense fury from the
stern and centre of the vessel. So great
was the heat in those parts, that the passen-
GERS male and female-men, women and
children-crowded to the forepart of the
vessel. Their piercing, heart-rending shrieks
for aid. were carried by the breeze across
the blue waters. In their maddening despair,
women Jumped overheard with their otl-
spring in their arms and sunk to rise no more.
| Men followed their wives in frenzy and were
lost. Groups Of men, women aud children
also precipitated themselves into the water,
in the vain hope of sen-preservation, but the
waters closed over many of them forever
| No pen can describe this awful scene. The
flames continued to rage with increased fury.
In few minutes the miZzenmast went over
board; ia few moments more aud the
mainmast shared the same fate. There yet
remained the foremost As the fire was
making its way to the fore part OF the YES
sci, the passengers and crew, OF course.
crowded still further forward. To the ilb-
boom they cIung in clusters, as thick as they
could pack-even one lying over the other
At length the foremost went overheard,
swapping the fastenings of the jib-boom,
which, with its load of human beings, drop
ped into the water, amid the most heart
rending screams. both of those on board and
those who were falling into the water. Some
of the poor creatures were enabled to again
reach the vessel. Others foated away on
spars, but many met with watery grave.
In about an hour and half after the
Yacht reached the vessel, the Brazilian steam
frigate AIfonzo came up. Sl!r anchored
Immediately to windward, and close TO the
burning vessel She got rope made fast
to the Ocean Monarch, and by the use Of
the said rope her boats We're enabled to go
backward and forwards to the burning yes
sci with great facility, and by this means
large number Of persons were saved.
The Prince Of Wales steamer, which was
on her passage to Bangor. came up shortly
afterwards. and with the New w Grid packet
ship, bound to New York. sent boats to the
rescue of the passengers, and were the
means of saving large number.
The Brazilian frigate Aifouzo was out on
a pleasure excursion; she was commanded
by the Marquis De Lisboa: there were also
on board the Prince DE Joinville, his lady
and suit. the Duke and Duchess D'Aumale,
the Brazilian Minister, the Chevalier D'Lis-
boa. Admiral Greuiell and daughters, and
other distinguished individuals. When the
Alfonzo discovered the Ocean Monarch, no
time was lost in bearing down 10 her, and it
was intended to anchor right under her bow,
but the wind changed a little, and prevented
this from being accomplished; four boats
were. however, at once lowered, and were
soon followed by the large paddle-box boat.
The Marquis De Lisboa jumped into one,
and Admiral Greniell IN the other, and
were untiring in their eXertions TO save the
poor people. The Prince DE Jolnyiile was
particularly assiduous in assisting he pas
sengers on board the frigate. OF those on +
board the o. NJ. y were saved by the Queen .
of the Ocean, leo by the Alfonzo, Is by .
fishing smack. and I7by the Prince Of Wales /
being a total Of 2l5 saved, leaving 10 (
still to be accounted for. s subscription .
has been set on foot for the relief Of the
sufferers.
4 noble fellow, a seaman belonging 70 the K
New World, went 10 the wreck when there (
was little hope Of SAVING any more, and +
stuck to the hulk of tie vessel I'll every
soul had left her. It Is said that this praise
worthy individual. by his own hand lowered .
100 persons to the boats below, of whom