Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-04-28
a rhrilling Scene.

The ship Trade Wind, which took fires ON her
passage from New York to San Francisco had
among her passengers eight missionaries and their
families, sent out TO California and 0fegonsb the
Home Missionary Society. Zone of them writes
homethe following description Of THE scene on
board: EeH &ssA E SO
passage, whenSin latitude deg. "a Minis, s,and
longitude 32Sdegs. SO mins.y one ofsthe sailors
came running 10 the officer on the quarter-deci.
crying out, "The ship is on fire !' This offic.i
went forward and saw the smoke coming out of
the chain lockers and creyices of the deck He
ordered sthei urcespump L. be Manned, and went
back to the cabain where Capt. w. and The pas
sengers We're at break fast. He communicated the
TACT to the captain, and they both left without
any suspicious being excited to the cause After
breakfast went upon deck,s and the unusual stir
on the forecastle attracting myattention, | went
forward and soon learned7the cause. The ship
was on IRE IN the cargo, somewhere, it was sup
posed, between the second and third decks; but
how extensive the fe was could not be immedi-
ately ascertained. A hole was cut through the
qeck, anu stream OF water from the force-pu
which would throw about five barrels per minute,
was thrown III upon the, burning mass. Several
other places were cut, and lines for passing buck
cts Were formed by the passengers. We toiled on
IN THIS way for SOME three hours, but could see no
indications that we were getting the fire under.-i
The ventiletors seemed rather 10 show that it was
spreading AFT under the cabin, which was then
beginning to be filed with gas and smoke.
The ship was then turned head to the lamb; we
were four hundred and Fifty miles from it. Tho
magazine was hoistedupon deck, and placed where
1t could be easily thrown overboard the life. boats
gotout and the provisions and water, and the
clothing " hich we would need till we could reach
the land, made ready. AT this time another large
opening was made, and box, on fire, was broken,
topieces, and It's contents passed upon the deck
another and another were broken up in the same
manner, till place was made large enough to ad-
mt one oil the sailors, who boldly went down with
the hose in his hand. He directed it against the
burning mass, ill he fell exhausted UPON the floor
tte was dragged out and another, as bold as he,
came to his place. In moment or two he fel,s
like his companion, and was dragged out nsensible,
and carried upon deck. Another and another took
his place, and shared his fate. Thus it went on
till every one of our sixty sailors had taken his
turn. AT one time l counted sixteen of these
generous fellows lying together on the deck. The
ladies came from the cabin and bathed their
heads with camphor, which would in most cases
bring them 10 In short time. AS soon as one was
recovered sufficiently to walk, he would go back
and oter his services again. Several of the men
were brought up out of this place as many eight
times. On. the mosttof them the gas which they
inhaled seemed 10 have an effect somewhat like
that OF laughing gas, particularly when they wer.
partially resuscltated. twas easy mntier to
restrain those powerful men when they endeavored
to throw themselves overheard, or do themselves
or us some personal harm.
4 For four hours we labored in this way, and YOU
may imagine the terrorS of our position. We could
but fear that The strength of the men, self sacrc
S as tHey Wetey Woulu MOI nClu on I'LL the flames
were extingulshed. Some of them could do no
more, and these the hardest of them ALL we toll
ed ON, however-the passengers, gentlemen and
ladies, working the pumpS-for another hour, when
The Joyful news came that the fire was out. No
more flames could be seen, no more smoke arose.
We began to breathe freely, aud hope that deliver
nnce had been sent TO u.s. After tho rest OF an
hour an examination was made. but,.no signs of
lire were discovered. We all lay down upon the
deck Gtwas very warm) and passed the night,-
The next day was the Sabbath, and never did
more grateful, a more 0evout assembly, come TO-
gether for the worship of God. t'e.