Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-12
BURNING OF THE SHIP CALEB GRIMsHAw.

BURNING OF THE SHIP CALEB GRIMsHAW.
Capt Hox1E, the commander of the unfortunate packet
ship Caleb Grimshac, having returned to New York. has
furnished the Courier with the particulars attending the loss
Of his ship and portion of the passengers The ship wa'
on her way from Liverpool to New YORK We extract the
following
No unusual incident occurred the voyage until Monday
the eth Of November The day commenced with light airs
from the porthward and the first time since leaving Ii
verpoo the weather pleasant the decks were dry and all
were enjoying the bright rays OF the SUM- AT r. NJ cry
of fire raised and instantly the passengers were
into terrible of alarm and confusion, IN which was
difficult for the officers any command to be heard
Without delay however, the engine was got to work, and
continued work during the whole time that the crew were
able stay by the burning wreck This re engine was pro-
baby the means of saving the lives of all who toru
nate as to escape 1t purchased by Capt H. Just pre-
vious leaving Liverpool this voyage and was OF unusual
power and capacity. By he enabled to flood the hold
of the ship TO depth of eren feet IN few hours But for
this Capt H. does think that with cargo OF the nature
of his the ship could have lasted twenty four hours
When the alarm given was supposed the fire was in
the seerage and the between-decks at once flooded
This did not subdue the fire. and became evident that the
seerage was not the of the disaster One OF the for
ward matches opened and the flames we've discovered in
the forward hold abreast of the chanocker on both sides
Mr. HoxlE the chief officer lowered by rope into the
hold but was at once by the smoke and immed
atey drawn out almost senseess. The smoke within the
first hour dense that impossible Tor any per-
son TO breathe between decks The among the
passengers became appalling They were perfectly frantic
Some refused work longer the ire engine and abandoned
themselves to despair while Others rushed to the quarter
boats hanging the davs and crammed them fu stow
ing themselves in like sheep, without regard to the possibility
of the boats sustaining them BY the Use Of force the captain
and crew were able clear OF he while sad TO relate
the other was carried away from the davs by the immense
number who nsaney crowded into her. These all perished
with others who pang from tie chains alter the beat as she
went down. 49,.
rL boot which bod heen cleared was then lowered and
by her means the other which had been swamped right
ed and BOTH together with the stern boat were towed asten
with in each subject to the orders OF the captain
Hopes of subduing the fire were still entertained and the
most strenuous exerions with the engine and with buckets
continued The sails on the ship were reduced to two
close reefed topsails. .r.., ..,.. a...
AT A NJ on Tuesday the pumps were sounded and 81
feet found the smoke and steam continuing very dense,
while the excitement among the passengers had not abaed
At II A. NJ got the tackle the long boat, launched her
overheard placed in her such articles OF provisions as
could be obtained and dropped her astern with two men IN
her The construction of raft was also commenced under
the direction of Captain HoxIE from the spars and panks
on deck As finished the passengers became
uncomfortable, and contrary to the orders OF the captain
and in spite Of his endeaSos to prevent then aunched the
raft broke the locks from the harness casks and removed
the beef and pork they contained the raft The smoke in
creasing the passengers became reckless and about sixty OF
strongest rushed the raft and, fearing might be over
burhened at once ad and at sunset that day were
scarcely visible The next day, the 18th, the wind blew
heavily from the eastward and Capt H. does not believe
possible that the raft could have whstood the sea, and has
little doubt that they teere all lost.
The remaining passengers, deening that those who had
taken the raft fortunate than they proceeded to
another out of such materials they could lay
hands At p. NJ. the heat and smoke became alarm
ing, and the ongboa ordered to be hauled under the
and Mrs. Hoxe and child lowered from the cabin
windows into it. The other cabin passengers also
lowered the stern, the cabin windows being too small
allow their egress by that means The boats were then
filled with many Of the passengers and crew as they could
haf cd hy
the vessel for the purpose Of keeping the fire under When
the boats thus filled, those for whom place could be
found became perfectly wild their hreks of despair were
ghtfu Maddened by the increasing heat, they began to
holes in the deck and the water tanks containing
zoo gallons, Notwithstanding the eneaties of the
captain their existence might depend on the preservation
OF such water and provisions deck for other
could be reached thirst for drink and plumber mani
tested itself among them and required all the energies of
the captain and keep them in any thing like suec-
ton At P. NJ Capt H. board the boat, leaving
Mr. Hoxie two mates, and six IN charge to keep the
engine at work. The boats all asern OF the ship
and she settling fast At IL, Tuesday, il found that
steam than smoke from below and the exeions
at the pump were somewhat RENTED.
On Wednesday sail made the burning ship and she
the northwest in the hope Of falling in with
passing vessel All the boats still in the decks Of
the ship hot the weather moderate and the engine and
pumps kept going. At of Friday strange sail was
discovered twenty miles distant, which, appearing to
notice the signals OF Distress al once altered Its course and
prepared for any emergency. In four and half hours she
within haing distance of the burning ship and proved
be the British barque Sarah of Yarmouth Nova Scotia
Capt. DAVID Cook At this time the too heavy to
transfer any Of the and the baque lay close to the
ship, all night with lights hoisted while the wind increased
much that the three boats towing carried away
Saturday occupied in conveying the and children
from the ship the barque, until darkness and high wind
and rendered unsafe for the boats pass from
sci 10 the other During the night it blew gale. By Sun
day afternoon hundred and sixty three passengers
board the baque, and all the except six The heavy
wind prevented further operations that night and the next day.
and not until Wednesday that the unfortunate ship
relieved of all her passengers and after which
she enveoped in Of fame. The bsrque then d-
rece her for Faya where she arrived in the after
Of Saturday. The American and English Consus on
learning the situation Of the passengers Several of whom
had died from exhaustion, spared exeons to alleviate
their suferngs. The of the dead, and of those who
lost in the boat and the raft be known until
the arrival of barque which has board the
The total number Of persons board the burning ship
399 The conduct Of the gallant and humane Captain
COOK, who by his se-sacrcing efforts, instrumental in
saving many lives deserves memorial Of his devotion
more enduring than the simple record Of it.
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF KENTUCKY.
We learn from the message of Governor CRIrTESpES that