Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-23
A THRILLING SCENE.

The ship Trade Wind, which took fire on her passage
from New York San Francisco had among her passen
gers eight missionaries and their families to
California and Oregon by the Home Missionary Society.
One of them writes home the following description of the
on board:
On the morning of the twenty day of passage
when in latitude deg IA Minis, and longitude 32 degs
3S Minis, of the sailors running to the officer
the deck crying out The ship is on fire 20 This
officer went forward and the smoke coming out of the
chain lockers and crevces of the deck He ordered the
force pump to be Manned and back the cabin
where Capt w and the passengers at breakfast.
He communicated the fact to the captain and they both
left without any suspicious being excited to the
After breakfast went upon deck and the unusual stir
the orecaste attracting my attention. went forward
and soon learned the cause The ship was on fire in the
cargo somewhere, it supposed between the second
and third decks; but how extensive the fire could
not be Immediately ascertaned hole was cut through
the deck and stream of water from the force pump,
which would throw about FIVE barrels per minute,
thrown in upon the burning Several other places
cut and lines for passing buckets formed by
the passengers We oied in this way for three
hours but could indications that were getting
the fire under. The yentators seemed rather to show
that it spreading aft under the cabin which then
beginning to be filed with gas and smoke.
The ship then turned head to the land we were
four hundred and fifty miles from it, The magazine
hosted upon the upper deck and placed where il could
be easily thrown overheard the feboats got out and
the provisions and water and the clothing which would
need till could reach the land made ready At this
time another large opening made, and box, FIRE,
broken pieces and its contents passed upon the
deck Another and another broken up in the same
manner till place was made large enough to admit
of the Sailors who boldly down with the hose in his
hand. He directed it against the burning mass till he
fell exhausted upon the floor. He dragged and
another as bold he, came TO his place. In moment
OF two he FELL like his companion, and dragged out
insensble, and carried upon the deck Another and
other took his place, and shared his fate Thus it
till every Of sixty sailors had taken his
At time counted sixteen of these generous fellows
lying together on the deck The ladies from the
cabin and bathed their heads with camphor which would
in most cases bring them to in short time. As
recovered sufficiently to walk, he would 90 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 to
have effect somewhat like that of laughing gas parti
culary when they partially resuscitaed 1t was
easy matter to restrain those powerful when they
endeavored to throw themselves overheard do them
selves some personal harm.
For four hours labored in this way, and you may
imagine the errors of position We could but fear
that the strength Of the men, sesacrfcing they were
would not hold till the flames extiDguished Some
of them could do more and these the hardest Of them
all We toled on, however-the passengers, gentlemen
and ladies' working the pumpsfor another hour, when
the joyful news came that the fire was out No more
flames could be seen, smoke arose. We began
to breathe freely and hope that deverance had been sent
to us After the rest of hour an examination was
made but signs of fire discovered We all lay
down upon the deck Gt very warm and passed the
night The next day was the Sabbath and never did
grateful devout assembly come together for
the worship of God.