The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-05-29
BURNING OF A SHIP AT SEA.

!, Nd on Thursday, the LIST Of March las,
under the charge Of Captain McGregor.-
Her crew amounted to nearly one hun
dred hands, thirty being Eng!ishmen anc
,eyenty Lnscars. She had on board, as
Storage passengers, about 70 Of the S0ll
regime nj Of foot, invaiids and their families
and thirty-tbree cabin passengers. The
massage from Calcutta down the Hooghl,
r,s.cd acreeably, and on the evening OF
the following Monday, the 4lh of March,
che was brought up for the night, and to
discharge the pilot, off Canterberry Point,
shout ten miles below Diamond Harbor.-
The weather was fine, and most of the
passengers and soldiers we're on deck sing
inc. dancing, and otherwise amusing them
selves. All seemed happy and cheerful.
As night approached, they one by one dis
appeared below, and by hnlf past nine all
was qniei-with the exception ofthe watch
on deck, all had turned in to sleep, and
nothing was heard but the ripping of the
waters against the ships bow. Suddenly,
however, thrill of horror ran through the
ship by the cry Of fire, and the decks were
instantly crowded BY the terrified passen-
GERS IN a ST ate OF nudity.
The first intmation Captain McGrcgor
received Gifts existence was about ten min
utes before ten o'clock, when man re.
ported to him that he feared there was some
thing wrong in the iorehold, as smoke was
- thx, I,,.,a. AZ.
went instantly forward and found such was
really the case, the smoke and heat almost
empowering the men below. Saspecting
that it emanaied from some junk slowed
away in that part of the hold, the pumps
we're 90, to work, and the most energetic
steps taken BY all hands to prevent lis get
ting ahead hnt 10 the great alarm of all,
The smoke and heat increased so rapidly as
to drive men away from the haichwav, and
ere ten minutes had transpired from the
time OF actual discovery, a body of flames
burst forth and shot up through the quar-
tier deck. Already the noise and confusion
lon the deck had alarmed the troops and
passengers, and some seeing the fire through
bukheads, screamed out "Oh, God. the
&hip's on fire." and in an instant the scene
became appalling
j With the aid OF the officers. Capt. Me
Gregor succeeded in inducing the soldiers
b keep calm, and with al hands, psssen-
ers and all, made another attempt Ia save
be ship. fnus and tuns OF water were
iseharged ON the burning cargo, in the
)opes it would he accomplished, but with
b, producing the slightes, effect The fire,
b fact. gained the ascendency tremendous
y, and communicating 10 the fore rigging
be whole was quickly ia a blaze. As far
4 the efe could stretch nothing could be
zen but sky aud water. which was lit up
b the glare Of the fire--'he NIGHT being
Sers dark. Captain McGregor, perceiving
hat the destruction of his ship was newt
Die. with Judgment, determined, if posi-
|le. To run her ashore--'he only apparent
thqnce oil saving the lives Of those on board,
ni gave orders 10 his men TO slip her Ca
lles, which was al once carried into exc
|fuiinn. Although no land could be dis.
&erned, he was positive it was not far dis
liant, The current fortunately favored the
kpIau, for setting strong IN shore, il drove the
Burning vessel 10 TIN, direction. aud in the
course Of an honr she grounded in such a
position on The shore that those who could
swim could gain the land with little difficult
us. In the meanwhile, the fire bad extend
ed to the main hold, and the whole fore
part Of the ship, with the mainmas', pre-
sen,ed one sea of flame, ScorchIng its living
freight, who had taken refuge on The poop
Many Of the lady passengers exhibited an
amoun, Of GOODNESS and devotion in the
highest degree praiseworlhy; others were
smos, frantic with despair, and their
screams rent the air. Soon after the
wreck touched the shore, steamer came
down 10 the spot, the crew Of which had
heard the firing Of the Buckinghamshire's
signal guns. and was guided TO the spot by
The light of the confllgraiion. Her arriv
d at the critical moment was beyond meas
are fortunate. for had it not been the case,
The boats ofthe burning ship could not have
accommodated one half the number on
board, consequently great sacrifice of life
mus, to certainty have followed. Cap
tam McGregar. with his first mate and Off
GERS on board, acted throughout this tragic
scene, in manner deserving Of the high
est commentator, and by their cool and
determined zeal, restored something like
I6rder among The invalids, who, the moment,
thev found the ship had struck, commenced
70 throw themselves overheard. Several
cd 81, md were never seen after, they
were swept away by the current and
trowned; the number was not exactly
kaown-lt was presumed, however, that
here were five who thus persisted - Cor.
dependence ". Y. Tribune.
VALUE or OLD RoPE.-A Among the nun
erous WORKOUT, and often considered worth.
~ l., a ~