Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-09
FRANCE.

one Liues.-The Orlando, Capt. White arrived
at Havre on Monday, with number of passen-
gers belonging to the American ship st. George,
Can't. Bairson, which had been destroyed by fire
at sea. The st. George, it appears, left Liver
pool for New York on the Oath of November,
with 1877 passengers and % crew, the former
chiefly Irish, and among them many women and
children The voyage was favorable enough up
to the oath of December, when in 46 deg. IL
min. latitude, and 25 deg. 30 min. longitude, the
hold of the ship was discovered to be on ire
The Captain caused one of the hatchways TO be
opened, and set the fire engine to play. But the
smoke was so thick between decks that the pas
sengers were obliged to leave. The flames
spread to the part of the vessel between the
main and mizen masts, and were accompanied
by such thick smoke that seven or eight persons
were suffocated.
1t was now found that it was impossible to
check the progress of the flames, and the captain
assembled all the passengers on deck. Rain
was falling, and the horizon was overhung with
clouds; but fortunately, vessel passed sufi-
GENTLY near to perceive the signals of distress.
This vessel turned out to be the Orlando, and
she approached as near the st. George as it was
safe to do. Unfortunately she had lost her sails
and boats in a violent gale. The captain OF the
st. George caused his two boats to be let down,
and they conveyed as many passengers as they
could hold to the Orlando; but the violence of
the sea was such that one of them was Knocked
to pieces against that vessel. The life-boat on
ly remained to remove $50 PERSONS but it could
not take more than four or five at time.
Meantime the flames continued to progress,
and the wind blew furiously. The sea, too, be-
came so violent that, the only means the passen-
gers had of entering the boat was to leap into the
sea, and be picked up. At length, after sxty-four
times passing to and fro, the boat succeeded in
placing 76 of the passengers in safety on board
the Orlando. Of the remaining 81, Is were
drowned, s, as already stated, were sutfocated
between decks, and %, principally women and
children, fearing to throw themselves into the
sea, refused to leave the burning vessel. All
the crew were rescued. Eventually the Orlan-
do, fearing for its own safety from the progress
of the flames and the violence of the sea and
wind, was obliged to sheer off, leaving the %
unfortunate creatures to the wretched fate.
The rescued persons were almost without
clothing, but the captain and crew of the Orlan-
do did everything they possibly could to provide
for their comfort. IL was feared that famine
would arise in the ship, from the unexpected de-
mand on her stores and as the Orlando had lost
her sails, there was small hope of reaching land
in time. But fortunately the wind was in her
favor, and after eleven days voyage she arrived
safe at Havre Her provisions, by that time,
were completely exhausted, and she had only a
few gallons Of water. Food was Immediately
procured for the passengers and crew, who had
already begun to feel the pangs of hunger; and
they were afterwards sent to different lodging
houses, where they will be taken care Of
a.
York on the Goth ult., with four days later news
from Europe The most important item of the
intelligence is the fact that death has at length
put period to the suflerings of Francisco Ma
dial, the Florentine, whose melancholy history
has afforded themes for newspaper articles and
general orations. A suspicion is entertained
that the unfortunate man was poisoned
Amongst the other items of news brought by
the Arctic, we find that rumors continue to pre-
vail that Gen. Cadeno was to be shortly recall
ed from the government of Cuba. We also
learn that the Emperor Napoleon had entered
with spirit upon the project Of establishing a
line of steamers between France and this coun-
try; but it is suspected that this is merely ruse
to cover his Interior design of increasing the
steam navy of France and some color is given
to the suspicion by the fact that the contractors
are to be bound over to lend their vessels 10
the government when required, and sail them
to and from Cherbourg, the great naval entre-
pot.
Regarding the commercial news, the feature
is the arrival in England of $5,OOO,5OO in Aus
tralian gold and $l,500,O00 in Mexican silver.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81.
1t is said that Custom House officer in New
York is about to secure profitable contract in
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