The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-22
A Thrilling Scene.

The ship Trade Wind, which took fire on her passage
from New York TO San Francisco, had among her passen
gers eight missionaries and their families. sent out 10
California and Oregon by the Home Missionary Society
One of them writes home the following description OF the
scene on board
"On The morning of the twenty first day Of our pas
sage when in latitude deg IA min, and longitude 81
deg 3S min, OF the sailors running 10 The Of
icer The quarter deck, crying out The ship is on
fire This officer went forward and saw the smoke
coming out OF the chain lockers and crevces OF the
deck He ordered the force pumps TO be manned, and
went back to the cabin where Captain w. and the pas
sengers were at breakfast He communicated the fac
to the captain, and they both lett without any
picons being excited TO the cause After breakfast
upon deck and the unusual stir on the orecasIle
attracting my attention, wen! forward and soon learned
the cause The ship was on fire IN the cargo, somewhere
il supposed between the second and third decks bu
how extensive the lire could not be Immediately
ascerlained. A hole cut through the deck, and
stream of waller from the force pump, which would throw
about five barrels per minute was thrown IN upon The
burning Several other places cut, and lines
for passing buckets formed by the passengers We
oiled IN this way Tor some three hours, but could
see no indications that we were getting The fire under
The ventiaors seemed rather show that twas spread
ing aft under the cabin, which then beginning TO be
filled with gas and smoke.
1.-The ship then turned head to the land; were
four hundred and fifty miles from IT, The magazine was
hoisted upon the upper deck and placed where 1t could
be easily thrown overboard the e.boats got out and
the provisions and water, and the clothing, which we
would need till could reach the land made ready. AT
this time another large opening made, ard box,
fire, broken to pieces, and lis contents passed upon
the deck Another and another Were broken up in The
manner TILL place was made large enough to adj
nit of the sailors, who boldly went down with the
hose in his hand. He directed it against the burning
mass, TIL he fell exhausted upon The floor. He was
dragged and another bold he to his place
In moment two he tell, like his companion, and
dragged out nsensible, and carried upon the deck An
other and another took his place. and shared his fate
Thus il went till every of sixty sailors had
taken his AT time counted sixteen of these
generous fellows lying together the deck The ladies
came from the cabin and bahed their heads with
phor which would in most bring them TO in short
lime. As one was recovered sufficiently To walk
he would 60 back and offer his services again. Several
of the brought up out OF this place many
eight times On the most OF them The gas which they
inhaled seemed 10 have effect somewhat like that OF
laug hing gas, particularly when they partially
suscltaed II was no easy matter TO Restrain those pow
eTful men when they endeavored to throw themselves
overheard, do themselves some personal harm.
'For four hours labored in this way, and you may
imagine the terroTs of position We could but fear
that the strength of the men, selfsacrihcing they
were, would not hold on till the flames extngGish-
ed Some OF them could do and these the har.
dest of them all. We tolled on, howeverthe passen-
gers, gentlemen and ladies', working the pumps for
another hour, when the joyful that The IRE
was out No more flames could be seen--no more smoke
arose We began TO breathe freely, and hope that de-
lverance had been sent to After the rest OF an hour
examination was made, but signs OF fire were dis
covered We all lay down upon the deck Ct was very
warn) and passed the night Tse day the
Sabbath, and did more grateful, more devou,
assembly come together for the worship oil God"