Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-05-06
A Chapter Of Terrors.

a Ihrattfg Scene.-The Ship Trade Wind, which
look NE on her passage from New York to San Fran
as.o. nau among her passengers eight missionaries
nu lheir families sent out to California and Oregon,
y Inc Rome missionary Society. One of them
writes nome the following description of The scene on
board: =
On the morning Of the twenty first day of our pas
sage, when IN lat. deg IA min., and long 80 deg
20 mi one of the sailors running to the officer
on quarter deck, crying out, the ship is on frer-
lhls oficer went forward, and saw the smoke coming
out OF the chain lockers and crevces of the deck He
ordered the force pump to be manned and went back
to the cabin where Capt. w and the passengers were
al breakfast. He communicated the fact to the Cap
'a' ana hey both lett without any suspicious being
excited as to the cause After breakfast went upon
deck, and the unusual stir on the forecastIe attracting
my attention, went forward, and soon learned the
cause.-The ship on fire, in the cargo, somewhere
It was supposed between the second and third decks
but how extensive the fire was could not be immed-
ateiy ascertalned hole was cut through the deck,
and a stream of water from the force pump which
would throw about five barrels per minute was thrown
IN upon the burning Several other places were
cut: and lines for passing buckets we've formed BY
the passengers We tolIed OH in this way for some
three hours, but could indications that we were
getting The fire under. The venators seemed rather
to show that ii was spreading aft, under the cabin,
which was then beginning to be filled with gas and
| smoke.
The ship was then turned head 10 the land; we were
/
the upper deck and placed where it could be easily
thrown overheard the life boats got out and the pro-
visions and water, and the clothing which we would
need I'LL we could reach the land, made ready At
this time another large opening was made, and box,
on fire, was broken TO pieces, and its contents passed
upon the deck Another and another were broken I'D
IN the same manner, till place was made large en-
ough TO admit one of the sailors, who boldly went
down with the hose in his md He directed against
TIE burning mass, till he fell exhausted upon the floor
| 10 r1O mt nd hold
TO his place. In moment two he fell, like his
companion, and was dragged out nsenshle, and car
ried upon the deck. Another and another took his
place and shared his fate. Thus it went on till everv
one of our sixty sailors had taken his turn. At one
tme counted sixteen Of these generous fellows w.
ing together on the deck The ladies' came from the
cabin and bahed their heads with camphor, which
would IN most cases bring them 10 in short time As
soon as one was removed sufficiently to walk, he
would go back and Offer his services again. Several
OF the men were brong up out of this place many
as eight times. On the most of them the gas which
they inhaled seemed TO have effect somewhat like
that OF laughing gas, particularly when they were
partially resusceted. 1t easy matter TO re.
strain those powerful men when they endeavored to
throw themselves overheard, or 10 do themselves OF
personal harm.
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 sacrificing
they were would not hold on till the flames were
| oA'llS CO'Ho vi uIcl COulu 40 HO more, anu
these the hardest of them all We toiled on, how.
ever-the passengers, gentlemen and ladies, working
the pumps-tor another hour, when the joyful news
came that the fire was out. No more flames could be
seen. no more smoke arose. We began 10 breathe
freely and hope that deiiverance had been sent to
After the rest of an hour an examination was made
but no signs of fire discovered We all lay
down upon the deck tit very warm) and passed
the night. The next day the Sabbath and never
did more grateful, more devout assembly come TO-
gether for the worship of God.
! RoMANcE.--We published, short time since the