Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1858-01-30
burning, OK the
Lc2n i,yora-
r, when the
nth and lon
~ mile; from
clock in the
= lnart},n,l on

ell, and to the astOnShmcut and horror Of MI
the cargo slowed there proved 10 bc on fire,
1t is stated that The bulk OF the cargo there
CONSISTED! Of government stores. Bale after
bale was hauled up in the hope of rettiu~
at tbs scat Of the fire: h>t in short tim,
the smoke became so dense as to defy any of
Inc crew getting further in 0 the hold
There vas no confusion however; every or.
de-; 'iH;;' va 2h""cl by men with coolnass and
courage lac comrsc Of the ship WAS s;on-
psi Colonial MntiAt was seen in earnest
consultation: with Capt Castle deciding u,,on
measures 'or supplcSS;ny he flames, while
the soldiers and the crew were actively
employed in ta|<in; all sail in and bringing
the ship before the wind Others ran out
lengths Of hose from the fire engines, which,
were passed down to hands below while
hose WAS put on the donkey ca:n.. 1t
soon bcca nc apparent that all these cxcr.
TONS failed in checking the progress Of the
fire.
Colonel Moliat, at the suggestion of the
commander, directed his men to at once
cast overheard all the ammunition and IN a
short time they succeeded in clearing out
the starhoard magazine. The remainder Of
the powder, however in the port magazine.
excited great apprchcn>ions Already had
the alter part OF the ship become almost IN :
approachal|e from the dense smoke and
hca: which file! every portion of il. The
colonel appealed to his men Tor yoluntcc s
to attempt to rescue the c,,n!ents Of the
powdc" magazine, now so m,,:!, threat cncd
several brave fellow, instantly came forward
and hcro;caly succeeded in reaching The mag
azlnc, and clearing it, it is supposed, with the
exception O.! one or two barrels ur ;,owdcr
1t was truly hazardous work, several
ncarl, lost their lives, they LocaIne overpow
cred with heat aud smoke and fell and whca
hauled up on deck by ropes were scnsclcss.
The flames soon afterwards burned up thr'o
the DICK, and running along llc various cab
ms soon set he whole on fire. There was
heavy gale blowing at the time, and Capt.
Castle pc'cIlvlns the cril:cal condition Of The
ship, at once tovk inca i,,rc5 for The saf;
lowering Of :i,, boats. They were launched
without IA. least acc drn., tn, troops were
mustered on deck, there was DO rush to the
boats, AMI the mch mustered a. coo!!y and
obcycd the word OF command with as much
order as i they had been on parade rno-
mel MoiI',tt Informed them that Captain
Castle did not despair OF saving the ship but
for their own preservation it had been deem
Cd advisable to keep the b as oil 50 as to
act In case o! emergency
The women and children were lowered
into the port lil. boat, and she was directed
to stand of until further orders. All hands
then Turned in to making RATS OF spare sp,rs.
In short time three We're pat together,
which would have been capable of saving 4
large portion Of those on board Capt. Gas
tic succeeded in launching two overheard,
and tn, third was Left across the deck to be
lowcrc':a' a moment, notice. In the mean
while, the flames had A!.dc terrible progress.
tho whole OF the. cabins, and Saloos, were
one body Of fire, and ah}.,t nine o'clock the
fire b,'st through the deck and i-ni,cl the
upper rigging. Through tie fnrctlouyht
ICa?t. Castle in bringing the ship to the
wind, the fire and smoke were swcpt stern
wards, but serious anxiety was felt lest the
ship Should pay off, and 50 render her de-
struciion inevitable. Durin. this fearful
suspense dreadful explosion took place, II,
doubt arising from on. or two barrel, left
in tic port magazine, whic., Dew out the
port Quarter. The ship from the main rig
slns to her stern was one body Of fire.
Captain Castle still hal hope although lie
expressed his fears to the comma, ding Off .
Ger Of the troops that that the shin would
be lost. irovidc1,iaiIy the bulkhcad in the
aierpart Of the ship wi,l,Stood the action Of
the fumes. Here all efforts were corccn
tratcd to keep ii cool. Party after party of
the troops volunteered for the work, and so
enloarored to keep the f.c from making
its way forward.
For hours did this stale Of affairs continue.
Although the man kept the fire at bay be-
low t gained the main ri,.s;ny Mr.. Wech,
the chief officer with several of the soldiers
at once went aloft with wet blankets and
after considerable peril and risk succeeded
in cxtinsnshnr the flames. As t was how
av:r some Of the yards were burnt. TO.
wards two o'clock the following morning
the men had the satisfaction of sccjnr thr
fire diminishing. The fumes were Gradual
~ beaten back and by daylight were entire
~ cStir-';Shcl. 1t was not till then tina,
the fearful havoc made was asccrtaincl -
The after part of the skip, was burn. ou,
merely its shell remaining: and now ano,:,
CT fate threatened her. The gale still pre-
vailed and the ship was rolling and pitching
in heavy sea, conI'gn;Iy shipping water in
the port quarter, which had hctn blown ON
by the explosion. She h;ul Is fee. Of water
IN the hold. and active steps wcr, taken to
prevent her :cuuderin: All the men were
set to the pumps unl hailin, wafer out of
the hold.
Captain Castle, fearing the stern would
fall out. Got two l,awscr> under the bottom
ann made them taut. The mex. difficulty
was to stop the water whc, was pourin.. in
VII, t1,~
blankets were placed over the opening and
the leak was partially >tcpp>l Their, was
no abatement in the gale during Tie morn
Ing. and every l,cave Of the ship the water
tanks in TIL hold got loose. were dashed
from one side 10 the Diner. THO state of the
ship. ana the continued severity of the
weather, rendered the constant working of
the pumps and the battling Imperative 1t
was = o'clock III the afternoon when tho.
heats containing the women aul cAillrr,
could hc rot ;lrnr~;lc. They wet got on
board and The other boats. which had been
ordered o," during ,he raging OF the ti.c. re-.
turned. with t'.r exception OF the si.-, wh;c';
hal Teen >w&mpel during the night the
officer III Charge Of her, however Mr. Wooa
and all hands were picked up b. another
boat.
DARN. the rc,uaiulcr Of Ii, day tho g.,
loving night nd S,iccec lin. day. ;hs whole
of the hands and troops were .n.,u-c,
work'n. the pumps AMI clearing t!,r ship at
the water. i'y ti,e evening "f he 18th. the
racw succeeded III securing the >tcra a,,!
getting steSra-r way on The >I,lr She hail
then asiitr, n fr " longitude - d. Il
minutes South. Capt. Castle then set all
sail and bows Up in the hope of maxim.
Mautitus, anal - t.. ~ g; I'LL On beard.
made tho nor. in r,rl. DAYS whore lc, Or