Litchfield enquirer., 1858-10-07

understand the orders, and threw the sail over board without first making it fast to rope, end so it was lost. Thereupen the Professor went in search of something out of which to con- struct raft The mate, several of the crew, and especially the masters mate, did the same. But they could find no wood left, and the for ward pat of tic ship was of iron. The spare bars end hatchway doors and covers had been already thrown overheard to sustain other per sons. The Professor then inquired of the mas ters mate If there were no pumps forward, which could be set to work but he replied that there were none. Prof. auheusklee then, as last resort, stepped over the star board buIwarks upon the plank sherr-a ledge some eighteen inches wide-and looked ont for the two vessels which they had discerned in tie distance. Tie one which was closest seem- ed to approach very rapidly. At this time the steamer was still moving on it's course, west wards, towards her. The other vessel did not approach, and tine professor thinks her people did not see the steamer as when he saw her, only the top of her masts were visible above . the horizcn. Bnt Capt. Renaud Of the bark Maurice who at that time was close enough to see her maihsas and even her hull itself, subsequently stated that he had signa!led her but without success, as she did not answer the signal, but kept on her way. Renaud was fu rious at their apparent inhumanity, more eSle- cially as lie thought it might have been a French vessel.
 Ab5ut three-quartcrs fsan hour aft r the fire broke out, the foremast and shortly after the mainmast fell over the starboard side. The luizunnast sto ,d for some time, perhaps half an hour later, and about the time the piainmast fell the professor thought tie boiler exploded, Because he saw an immense quantity of steam rush up in the vicinity of tine funnel The ship, which had till now been heading west by south, commenced heading around to the north, the engine having stopped, and the smoke which had heretofore gone aft, came over the starboard side. About ten minutes later the powder magazine exploded. To those on board the explosion did not seem very severe, although some persons who were at thet time floating in the water beard a con- siderable report. The whole quantity of gun. powder ill the magazine was within 100 pounds.
 AS soon as the vessel had commenced fall ing of before the wind the position of those ou the forccastle became dangerous. All those forward had previously been secure, as the heat and flames were driven to the stern. But when the ship ceased to head to windward, the flames and smoke came forward. aud those who had taken refuge on the forecastle were com pclled to go over the bows, aud take refuge on , the bowSprt, and in the forechalns. On one of these chains Prof Glaubensklee crept out as , far as possible, followed by crowd of other persons, and held on by the dcu5ie-headed ,ble, which formed the ships figure-head. The bowsprit, tlngales, and every part of tlN fore rigging below the bGlwa,ks Wire then fll- cd with people, whose naturally dangerous po- sition became every minute more prrlous as smoke and fiery fragments flew over them. T"e clothes of these people were constantly igni stiagg -ss.a it-sev4assa .ihs :ftiieir adroituess to prevent them from blazing np and consuming them. Fortunately the forward part of tue vessel was almost entirely of iron, or they would inevitable have been driven from their refage into the sea. Among those cn the chains with the Professor and near him, were Mr. Palicrusca, the surgeon of the ship, sailor, and a waiter named Henry These assisted each other in extiuguishng t!.e fire winch Was constantly catching iu their clothes. ...
 The Professor saw that he might at any moment be called to jump into the water so he Giyested hiulself of his boots, shirt and ev- cry thing else that might impede hlm ill swim ming, keeping nothing on but his trowstrs, which he cut off some distance above the knees. Thus they remained for several hours watching tie coming ship, al! the time spectators of sui f. ring aud death in every form. Some of thelr companions We're sLockingIy burned, aud oth- CTS becoming exhausted dropped of. one by que into, lile sea, and sank to rise no lnore4
 The Approach of the vessel, which afterw;nd proved to be the Maurice, uow became very slow, as the engine of the steamship ceased to move, and the light wind had died away, and the burning vessel therefore Jay becalned and motunlcss Numerous ropes had been fasten- cd to the railing, the bowsprit, the chains and other parts of the vessel The people were clingiug to these preparatory to lowering them selves to the water as soon as succor should ar rive.
 When the ship lost her steerage way and headed to the northeast, the hudmost people on the forward part of the ship were exposed to the fire, and then it was continuation of shrieks aud cries most heart-rending. When their sufferiugs became intolerable, they let themseives down or threw themselves into the , sea, and, after few struggles, were drowned Most of the women who threw themselves ill- to the water were, for few minutes, support ed by their garments, but they did not long survive t~ ss
 As the wind died away, and the French bark remained motionless, the hope which had heretofore animated the unfortunate survlyors, died away with it. The other vessel had dis appeared in the distance Another sail, how ever, soon showed itself above the horizon, probably the Norwegian bark which was seen cruising around the wreck next morning. When the bark Maurice had got within three-quar- ters of mile of the steamer, it fell calm, and Capt. Remand brought his vessel to, and low cred his boats. It was then halfpast five o'clock, three hours after the fire originated. What terrible tragedy had been enacted during that brief period !! Of nearly 600 people not more than one-tenth survived.