The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-21
THRILLING NARRATiV.
The Destruction by Fire, ,at Sea,
THE
SHIP CALEB GRlMSHiW

LONDON Times, Tor which paper II was furnished
by cabin passenger. We have simply given the
narrative, leaving out the severe animadversions
on the conduct Of Captain Hoxie during the fright
full conhagraton;-
SrR-As | believe no detailed account of the
destruction by fire of the ship Caleb Grimshaw
with the loss Of l0l passengers, has yet been
before the public, enclose you the particulars,
which, coming from an eyewitness of the melan-
choy event, and who writes from notes taken at
the time, may be interesting TO those who had
friends or relatives on board, and which | hope,
SIR, you VIII lind worth inserting In your valuable
journal.
In compliance with your rules, enclose my
card, and remain, sir, yours, NC,
LONDON, Dec. ~. CABIN PASSENGER.
The Caleb Grimshaw sailed from Liverpool on
the 23d of last October, with general cargo, be-
sides 100 tons OF coal, and, | believe, 600 or 700
tons OF iron. She carried 427 passengers, incud-
ing in the cabin; the crew numbered IS with
four mates, there beng also steward and stew
ardess, the captain, his wife and child, doctor,
and two cooks-in all, 457 souls. For nearly
three weeks We experienced nothing but contrary
winds and Gains, and the first fair wind we met
with was on the DAY the fire was discovered
Sunday, the llh OF November Ii was the first
day we had our suddlng sails set Our latitude
the day before was I'll deg. s min. N longitude
80 deg. w. AT the time the accident occurred
We were IN longitude about 81 deg 30 min W.
AT nine O'Clock, Il. NJ the ship being under all
sail, gong about TWO knots, the alarm OF fire was
gwen, smoke being observed 10 ascend from the
fusion; the steerage passengers rushed up from
their berths, and came att The quarterback,
lying and kneelng down IN all directions, I'M
pedlng The exertlons OF The crew, and hardly al
lowing the commands of the captain 10 be heard
above their cries. large iorce-pump the fore
castle deck was Immediately manned, and hose
fastened TO 1t, which play down between decks.
by tins means, and the employment OF the ships
buckets, there was a considerable guam
uty OF water between decks, but still no abate-
ment OF the smoke. Ii was now evident the
hIe The lower hold the hal
which had been caulked and pitched over when
leaving Liverpool, was therefore opened, when inn
medlaiely thick volumes OF smoke assembled. The
hose was now directed down this hatchway, fresh
hands were summoned 10 the pump, and in about an
hour, the smoke appearing 10 decrease, Mr. Hoxie,
the hrst mate, volunteered TO go down and try If
ne could see the hire "A rope was accordingly tied
round hls body, but he had hardly been lowered
below the haichway when he called out, and was
immediately hauled up again, quite lnsensible from
the smoke. Ills report when after several mi
nutes he recovered was very discouraglng; he said
she was all on fire below. The exertions OF those
at the pump were redoubed, and constant stream
OF water directed below. Several of the pdssen-
gers volunteered their services, but great many
had TO be driven from among the women and chill
dren, where they lay groanlng and crying While
the captain and mates were forward a number of
the passengers got into the larboard quarter boat,
ana lowered her. She was immediately swamped,
and about IL were drowned. Shortly after the
alarm OF fire the man ri the wheel deserted his
post, and he, the boatswaIn, the second cook with
one or two others OF the crew, having placed two
compasses and some provisions and water in the
stern boat, got into her, lowered her, and remain
ed In her astern OF the vessel, TO which they did
not return Tor several days. As soon as the force
pump and buckets were regularly at work most of
the sail was taken IN, and the chip hove aback. by
this time II was about midnight, and quite calm.
and had the vessel had gun on board IL ought to
have been fred all the night through; but, strange
TO say, she was totally unproviued with cannon,
nor do think she had rockets blue lights either
at least, none were burnt There were two large
tanks OF water on the man deck, each containing
LOO gallons. These the passengers stove in,
In spite Of the captains exertions TO pre-
vent them. They said the fire must be put
out al any cost About o'clock in the morning
OF Monday, the l2th, the smoke was not OBJ,
served 10 Increase, the rst alarm subsidized aud the
crying ceastd, the people for the most part falling
asleep. Ia the course Ot the night, the stafbOafd
quarter boat was got down and vttTed astern VITA
three OF the crew m her; the stern boat already
lowered, and The othsT quarter boat, which had
been twgmpcd, was bal,u out by the fret mate aud
one or TWO ct the crew; she also passed aslern
and Three men placed Ia her, while all the boats
were provided with oaTs, provisions and water
having also been placed IN ,ach Dawn disclosed
scene OF coniuslon-thc quarter deck covered
with Nib, IN which were lying women aud chill
dren IN ali duecuons, while ~ the forehaich the
smoke sun continued to ascend, and 1t was pene-
uatlng slowly INTO the cabin. Some of the crew
now pre- pared TO launch the long boat while others
commenced making a raft, and the smoke being
observed stealing att the pumps ne ar the mainmast
were set TO woIk The long boat was launched
about A. NJ and passed astrTn; the captains wife
and child were lowered met out OF his state room
wlnCow, through which were also passed some
compssses, charts, Wc., and then the cabin pas
seng.rs were lowered over the stern of the vessel
While ihls was gong on the scene became painful
IN the extreme, some Tush Il To the captain state
room, beseeching HIM To save them; numbers
CROWDED round The ktrfn, where the second mate
was employed lowering The ladies' into the long
boat; Others were TO be at their prayers, while
mothers and children, husbands and wives en-
brsced each other and mingled their tears togeth.
er AZ this tying period, the conduct Of English
and Inch contrasied strongly While the English
generally seemed To await their fate IN silent re-
sgnanon, the Irish were loud IN their lamenta.
uons, notwithstanding that priest had been en-
poyed giving them absOlution all the night and
morning. remarkable instance Of their extreme
love Of lie was exhibited by two gils. who lover
ed Themselves 10y Tope hanging ever the stern
although they were tod that they would not be
admitted into the boat they were, however,
taken IN, after beng i,ii hanging IN the water
until they were nearly exhausted. -Four of the
second cabin passengers, too, got 10, aud two
lfishmen forced Themselves On board. having base
~ deserted their wives IN the burning vessel -
When the winter left the ship tor the long boat, |
the cabin floor was quite VAIN, and smoke was
coming up through the seams Of the deck, so that
the he was evidently cate ndfDg to the after part
OF the vessel In the afternoon the captain came
of. and was put on board the long boat On his
leaving the vesssfs SIDE the POOR creatures ON
board s.t up g.nsfal cry, "Oh, captain, DEAR
save "a cave us Tie told the m he was not going
60 leave them, and that he would stay by the vessel
90 the last Before he lett, the crew had made two
more RATES one Of these was launched, and about
- Perssns got IN ~. when, fearing il would be
overcrowdtd, they cut themselves adrift and soon
after hoisted small sai aud OIL to the. east
ward before the wind Ii is most probable they
all persisted in day or Two, a., although they
had barrel OF beef and one OF pork, they had very
little water, and believe no bread.
All Monday night and all Tuesday and Tuesd
night the ship lay TO with the boats astern. ON
Tuesday morning the chief mate came oil IN one
~ the boaU and brought some provisions and A
small TN vessel Of water for the long boat They
had passed a terrible night on board. No sooner
had the captain LETT than the steerage passengers
rushed into the cabin. cut and broke open all the
trunks and boxes they could lay hands on, and
rnec them oi their contents. They found two |
cases ct brandy and few bottles OF wine, after
havrg consumed which they became very riotous, |
attackirg The hrt mate and some of the crew. who |
hed great difficulty IN preserving their lves They