Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-01-14

FOote, Iva
Scattering, -z- 9
Mr.. Campbell, whig, was reelected Clerk
of the House on Friday.
A Fire at Sea-Loss of the Ship Grim
shaw-Terrible Destruction Of Life.
The New York papers countain most
thrilling accounts of the loss Of the Caleb
Granashaao, by fire, on her way from Liv-
erpool to New York, having on board about
400 passengers. The Captain, his wife.
and part of the crew have arrived at New
York, on the Ship Clarke Bell, and the
following is the account they give:
No unusual incident occurred on the
voyage, until Monday, the 18th of Novem.
Der. The day commenced with light airs
from the Northward, for the first time since
leaving Liverpool, the weather was pleas
ant. AT 8 P. NJ. cry of fire was raised,
and instantly the passengers were thrown
into a terrible state Of alarm and confusion
in which it was difficult for the officers to
cause any command to be heard. With
out delay, however, the engines were got to
work and continued to work during the
whole time that the crew were able to stay
by the burning wreck.
This fire engine was probably the means
of saving the lives Of oil who were so for
tunate us TO escape. 1t was purchased. by
Capt. H. just previous to leaving Liver
pool on this voyage, and was of unusual
power and capacity. By it he was ena-
bled to flood The hold Of the ship to depth
of elsrsm feet in few hours. But for
this Captain II dees not think that with a
cargo of the nature Of his, the ship could
have lasted twenty. -four hours.
When the alarm was given, it was sup.
posed the fire was in the steerage, and the
between decks were at once flooded. This
did not subdue the fire, and it became evi.
dent that the steerage was not the scene of
| the disaster. One Of the forward hatches
was opened, and the flames were dscov-
cred in the forward hold, abreast Of the
chinrlocker, on both sides. Mr.. Hoxie,
the Chief Officer, was lowered by rope
into the hold, but was at once overcome by
the smoke. and Immediately drawn out al
most senseless. The smoke within the
first hour became so dense it was impos-
sible for any person TO breathe, between
decks. The CONSERVATION among the pas
sengers now became appalling. They
were perfectly frantic. Some refused to
work longer at the fire engine, and aban-
doned,themselves to despair; while others
rushed to the quarter boats hanging ut the
davits, and crammed them full-stowing
themselves in like sheep, without regard TO
the possibility of The boats sustaining them.
By use force, The Captain md crew were
able to clear one Of them, while sad to re-
late the other aoas carried dway from the
DARTS by the immense number acho an
stantiy croaodsd into her. These all per-
ished, with others, who sprang from the
chains after the boat as she went down
The boat which had been cleared was
then lowered, and by her means the other,
which had been swamped, was righted, and
both, together with the stern boat, were
towed astern with two men in ench. subject
to the orders Of the captain Hopes of SUBJ
DUNG the fire were still entertained, and
the most strenuous exertions with the en-
gine and with the buckets were continued
The sail of the ship was reduced to two
reefed-top sails. h -stt sfn
At s A. NJ, the pumps were sounded,
and 81 feet water found, the smoke and
steam continuing very dense, while The ex-
citement among the passengers had not
abated. AT IL A. NJ, got the tackle on
the long boat launched her overheard:
and placed in her such articles Of provis
ions as could be obtained, and dropped her
astern with two men in her. The con
str nf r.
under the direcsisn Of Captain Hoxie, from
the sPars and planks on deck. As soon as
| it was finished the passengers became un.
controllable, and, contrary to the orders ol
the Captain, and in spite Of his endeavors
to prevent them, launched the raft, broke
the .sharness casks and removed the beef
and pork They contained, to the raft The
smoke increasing, the passengers became
reckless, and about 60 Of the strongest
rushed to the raft, and fearing it might be
overburthened, at once cut it adri(t, and at
sunset that day were scarcely visible
The next day, the l3th,. the wind blew
heavily from the Eastward, and Captain
H. does not believe it possible that the raft
could have withstood the sen, and has little
doubt that they were all lost.
The remaining passengers, deemipg that
those who had taken the raft were more
fortunate than they, proceeded to construct
another, out of such materials Us they
could lay hands on. At 3 P. M. the heat
and the smoke became alarming, and the
long boat was ordered to be hauled under
the stern; and Mrs. Hoxie and child were
lowered from the cabin windows into it,
The other cabin passengers were also low
cred over The stern, the cabin windows be.
ing too small to allow their egress. by that
means. The boats were then filled with as
many ofthe passengers and crew as they
could safely carry, reserving places for
such OF the crew as remained by the vessel
for the purpose of keeping the fire under.
When the boats were thus filled, those for
whom no place could be found, became
perfectly wild; their shrieks of despair were
frighlful. Maddened by the increasing
heat, they beganto cut holes in the deck,