The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-09-07
DISASTROUS CONFEDERATION.
Turning IF Ms Steamship Cherokee.
Loss 100000 To 100000. ssw


From the New Yo:k Times we learn that last
Friday evening, about o'clock, the fine steam-
er Cherokee, ling at the foot of Warren street,
was discovered 10 be on fire and before It could
be subdued, the noble vessel. with her es,;rc
cargo, was completely destroyed. The Times
says:
The confiagraton spread prodiyious Iioht
over the heavens. and the alarm created in The
upper part OF the city during the early part Of
the evening, was intense. Immense crowds of
anxious merchants, Inks, newspaper people,
ana c'izens generally, simultaneously wendell
their way down town, by any conveyance that
offered, and were only fearful they should be
too late to witness the most Of The scene.
Ihe only persons on board the vessel AT the
time were two watchmen, named John T,ansr
and Charles Murphy. They gave the alarm
immediately, and the engines were PROMPTLY ON
the spot. In marvellous short time, however.
the hui OF the ship was sheet of fame. The
req tonsued element burst out ferociousy from
Tue port holes, crawled up the timbers, went
down the beams, fiickered about The mos.s ate
up the cordage, waved to and fro. and g., off ~.
rigging and the hull in boc IT lief against the
cloudrd sky We have rarely seen a more
beautiful sight always divesting the subject az
It's more melancholy features-than the shin Al
the moment when the flames had thoroughly
enwrapped her. The brilliant light shed bv the
o:azlng vessel upon the surrounding wbarves.
li.rs, and vessels, bathed the scene in ruddv
coi'rs, unmatched by any painters art. The
night was still and dark, and thousands upon
thousands OF men and lads were perched, like
clusters OF bees, upon every available stand
point within view of the wharf where tho ves-
sci Jay. The North River barges, with their fat
roots ana roomy sides, presented capital points
Tor view firemen brought their hose to
play upon the vessels in the vicinity Of the bnrn-
ing ship, and the sound of the rushing vaIer
the swapping fthe flames, and the exclamation.
OF the multitude, as a new tongue of flame wonld
s'oot up from the hold of the ship, far above the
man body Ut fire, made up tableau that is NOT
often witnessed even in New York. The sioht
charm was lost.
The Cherokee, belonged to George Law 4.
GO. line of New Orleans, aud Havana packets.
and was among the first vessels to engage in The
Cah1ornla passenger travel from this port She
mas been favorte steamer, and has made rood
passages. The loss to the owners and freiSht-
ers will be very heavy-probably not less than
cargo. VIZ WV =" 'Ae
The Cherokee was fully laden for her ont.
wa ward voyage, and was prepared to sail to day.-
" passengers Wne were EXPECTING
10 SAL IN her on this trip was, we understand
much larger than is usual at this season Of the
year: Many OF them had already sent on board
a large portion Of their baggage, which Is Of
course, total loss. :.
Inc cargo was, as we have already intima.
ted, very heavy, and valuable Its entire value
cannot be much short Of $500, 600, but on This
amount, there is probably nearly full insurance
The vessel was not insured,
It's supposed that the fire was occasoned bv
spontaneous combustion, although nothing def
mite on this point could be ascertained last
night The watchmen expressed themselves en-
tlreiy ignorant of any knowledge of the origin
OF the Hames, knowing no danger until the
fire burst FORTH The owners Of the shin had
exercised great caution in refusing admission
TO any combustible matter known as SUCH The
nature Of the cargo, however, was inflammable.
and the flames, when once started. progressed
with terrible rapidity
Durlng the confusion incident to the crowd
ing together ofso many people, an accident oc-
CURED winch narrowly escaped being a serious
one. From one of the piers jutting out towards
the bow OF the burning vessel, a man was push.
ca e.. INTO the water, and disappeared for some
ume under the projecting wharf; great cry
was raised, and soon boats put off to his rescue.
one OF which. after some DELAY, succeeded in
saving the onucky spectator, who was found
ciinging IN terror to one Of the posts of the
wharf.