The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-09-02
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licqr. ~ las a. ihu ausnnns II property de-
sir,srd y rouccfnrJ. tork rlsce ~ New
Nod % frda, night. The hr IVES d5s-
cosc-va about seven o'clo.ck On hoard
steamship Cherokee, Wing al tn too, q
Warrun street. vhich pas 10 haVc sailed
Sa,urdsy mon its HaVsnns and Ncr On
leans.
Tho whole u that part u the city was
illuminated by the flames. 4 much larger
au,oam 81 property vas consumed than 81
the Pearl street hrc. OF. M fact. am FIR,
witch has occurred IN this city Go pc,nc
years. Fires. like railroad catastophfcs.
comes on NJ IN showers. and unr great hrc
Is sure To be the precursor oi another.
The fire was first discovered by the dock
~nichmsn. named James Murphy, who oh
ssycd smoke ISSUING ,rom the abRn nitet-
gang way. and through the side lights
The flames first burst up the companion
way from the cabin.
Various rrports were aAoat as TO how
the Cherokee caught tire bu, the most
plausible seemed 10 be that some packages
Of vitriol had been slowed along with the
cargo, and had set FIRE to The goods IN the
hold under the cabin. Certain II is, II did
no, originate IN the engine room, a. the as
sistaut engineer had but few minutes
before gone rvund aud examined the ROOM.
Half an hour AFTER the fire broke out the
sky was 80 brilliantly illuminated that OBJ
iects could he seen out in the stream.
Much apprehension, a, first, was felt
lest she would blow up, as It was known
there was powder on board. Happily, how
ever, the powder was discovered and rc-
moved ftom the ship. A few minutes nc.
forwards an explosion was heard, when u
general rush was made from the wharf.
The report proceeded from the explosion
of some powder in the captains office.
The Cherokee belonged to tho United
States Mail Steamship Company the Com
pany Is composed of Mcssrs, George Law.
NJ. q. Roberts, and others. She was built
about five years ago, by James w. Webb,
and transferred by Rowland & Aspinwall
10 George Law, and others.
The Cherokee was handsome vessel
and the loss to the Company cannot be
under $200,0O0 and some estimate 1t at
s225,000. She was l,233 tons burthen,
30 feet in length, ~ in breadth. and IL
IN depth, pnd was newly painted and refit-
tep up, which partly accounts for her burn
ing up so quickly.
The Cherokee had no insurance, and
will be dead loss 10 the company.
She had few passengers engaged for
HAVANA and New Orleans.
The cargo, which was chiefly consigned
to houses in New Orleans, was unusually
large. There were about 1900 packages
Of merchandise, valued at about $500
each. There were about 200 shippers,
these no doubt had insured their goods.
The total loss therefore, of ship and cargo,
would amount TO half million.
Attempts were made 10 draw the Cher
okee out into the stream and then scultlc
her. The steam-tugs Corning, Catalin and
| I. Carey, had a rope attached to her but II
broke, and 1t was found Impossible to take
her out, as she was grounded, and all at
temcts TO seuitle or take her out into the
stream proved iruitless, and nothing could
be done for her but pour IN copious streams
of water, which was heartily done by the
firemen. The steamboats, and vessels w.
ing near the Cherokee, Immediately clear
| ed out when the FIRE broke out, SO that
there was no danger Of the shipping taking
| fire. At the fire in Pearl street there was
an immense concourse Of people assembled
bu, nothing like that which congregated a.
round the Cherokee. The street, wharves,
steamboats,, docks and inasts of ships in
| the vicinity were crowded with spectators
| Probably not less than 10000 people were
| present.