New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-06
The Ocean Wave CaIamity-statement OF the second
Mate.

fifteen hundred miles OIL i MS Dstrlct embraces
seveneights Of the Wing strength ofthe State
The Ocean Wave CaIamty-statement of the second
Mate.
From The Ogdensburgh Sentinel.
OGDENsBURGH, Monday May 2 1851 Pm:
BY the arrival Of the steamer Ottawa we are placed IN
possession Of facts in relation to the burning OF the
Inflated Ocean Wave. We give the statement Of ny rot
ter, second mate
beeu walking about the hurricane deck for half an hour
previous and noticed the sparks from the chimney falling
thcky on the deck number in particular arrested my
attention having fallen in one spot and renamed gied
for long time the fire occurred, as remember
about "a or o'clock looking toward the engine as
covered light shining the piston, and which shone Ike
lamp spoke 20 the wheelman ana called his attention
70 the light then aft 10 the engine and looked down
through the openings did the ames burst out from
below Immediately gave the alarm by blowing the steam
whistle and went below wake the and then left to
pet out the small boats the fire spread with such rapidy
that scarcely five minutes elapsed before the boat was com
pletely eDvelOped in flames.
While was below / saw Capt. Wright rushing forward
with the ladies' with other dress but their night clothes
Capt Wright almost Immediately returned to the after
gangwsy where he showed over carpenter bench and,
jumping into the water got on 10 It.
The greatest CONSERVATION and confusion prevailed, so
that no order observed the passengers but my
self and several OF the endeavored 10 get out the
boats but found them badly burned 10 be Of no
Seeing them aleavng the steamer, by various means
sought my safety and succeeded N getting upon the
rudder post There half dozen already col
eced there and among them Mr.. Oliver, the purser. Mr
Oliver not swimmer but he seemed regardless OF his
own fate in his manifest endeavOrs for the safety OF the
others The engine stopped within five minutes after the
fire broke out AS crowded upon the rudder
post thought it best TO change my quarters accord
ngly round to the water wheel After reaching that
discovered q woman, partially insensibe, floating along
down toward reached out my hand and got hold OF
her. and helped her up to the wheel She proved to be
Mrs. Stephenson, of Hamilton She was much exhausted
managed TO get her the wheel and near the ire,
where we remained about an hour and where succeed
ed in getting nearly dry She seemed TO be inspired with
new courage and devised means for her safety. She
took my neck handkerchief and tied It around her waist
TO provide other ashng She tore her night clothes INTO
strips j fearful that the pillar blocks of the wheel
would be burnt away, ard accordingly got on the brace
forward Of the wheels, Mrs. Stephenson following LETT
Mrs Stephenson the Brace the sparks coming down
her clothes on fire prevailed on her to drop into the
water TO nut out the FIRE We worked way forward by
the braces aud while dong So the outside Of the wheel
house fell out which made quite raft which got on TO-
and succeeded in getting Mrs Stephenson on.
The which had fallen had the bell attached, and
a short distance from and pulled for and got to IL
and rang the bell This brought TO assistance small
boat schooner supposed TO be the GeOrg who
took on board This boat made several trips between
the schooner and the wreck, taking of all from IT, The
first time this small boat approached the sufferers came
very near, and turned away without taking any one On
board This movement being observed By the cook, who
was clngng to the rudder post the poor fellow, IN the
agony of despair, let go his hold and persisted
The account heretofore given OF steamer having passed
in sight is confirmed The steamer one Of those small
craft employed in running the canal called the Scotland
AL accounts from the survivors agree that she passed
without rendering any assistance when those ON board
knew the danger and inquired the name OF the burning
boat Too much censure cannot apply to such unieelng
wretches as those in command the Scotland.
Mr. Forsyth, the LIST mate, with whom we have conversed,
saved himself plank and was picked up some distance
from shore by fishing boat His feet and hands were
considerably burnt lie thinks the fire originated from
The Ocean Wave freighted with $500 bbls. -four
and from 400 to 500 packages OF butter.
In an editorial article the subject of this wholesale
slaughter The Sentinel says
There seems to be difference of opinion among the sur
70 fha Of he / To
been from the Ealing sparks and cnders from the upper
decksome that the result of friction IN the piston
cylinder Others that it was communicated from the dnes
We know, that in every of the kind IS com
charge the catastrophe upon the gross careesnes
of those whose duty 10 keep strict watch over the
safety of the vessel and this fear Will not form an
execution 10 the Justice of such censure seems ncred
bic that vessel could be completely at the mercy the
destroying element before the discovery of danger without
criminal neglect in some quarter, for all accounts from
the survivors concur IN saying that ON the hst alarm Inc
had made such progress to defy the most srenu
Gus exorons and for the satisfaction OF the public As We'll
for the ends of public justice the circumstances ought
AS we doubt not they will besubiected the rigorous
scrutiny The fact that the vessel had been newly painted
furnishes the only possible solution of the rapid progress OF
destruction consistent with the entire innocence OF the
watch How far this will apply, the public will Judge
The Wave, understand, bnt about two
years old, and was built to ply between Montreal
and Quebec but had recently been purchased by
the Northern Railroad Company for the Canada trade
and being vessel of British bottom, not subject
the udcOus steamboat law operative vessels this
side the line respect 70 floats and preservers
gather from all the have yet heard of the
amty, that she in the least supplied with epreserv
and other convenences TO aid sufferers to keep ahoa
in calamity of this kind If our inference that she
rot thus furnished is correct no amount Of apology win
shield the from the justice of the severest
nor excuse the and criminal neglect They rest
under fearful responsibility for it is than probable
that had the vessel been properly equipped this respect
the list Of unfortunate victims would not have been long
nOr so any hearth stones rendered desOlate
Nor ShOud the cruel conduct of the dastardy wretches
Who refused succor the drowning victims and 10 those
suffering the excrucang fortunes of fire. be suffered pass
without the severest apprehension No severity language
express the Indignation which must be felt by every
with human heart in his bosom, at hearing OF cool
disregard for human life. We trust the name OF the
ster will be given to the public of one unfit for civil
lied society much less 10 be trusted with the protection Of
human life.