The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-28

hopes of reaching New York by the 18TH At little after
2oclock 7. NJ was the quarter deck. saw dense
yosmc Of smoke burst from the after entrance the
steerage. Some women aft, excaimng s'The ship
on fire! what will become Of usf' The ship was instant
~ put at half speed, at which she continued until the
game exploded from which infer the engineers were
instantly sufocatcd only walked from where was on
The quarter deck TO the waist of the ship when saw the
flames breaking through the lights amidships As the
ship was head to the wind the rc travelled with fearful
rapidty.
Ithen went to the man at the wheel, and told him
70 put the vessel with her side TO the wind H. hcs
tated-probaby did not understand me, as he was a
native OF Hamburg. then got a German gentle
man to speak to him. At this time saw some per-
sons letting down the boat the port side Of the quarter
deck What became Of the boat don't know but think
she crushed under the screw. then went to let
boat from the quarter deck but
the moment we laid hands the ropes there were 10
many people who crowded into that could not lift it
on the blocks We therefore left for few minutes unit
the people got out when returned and launched II over
the side Of the ship, when the people all rushing into it
again. descended with great violence into the water and
was instantly swamped all the people being washed out
excepting three, who held to the Sides We then let
down rope and pulled up person. who proved to be
the steward Another in the act Of being hauled up was
stranged by the rope.
The fire now came too hercely to attempt TO ret nm
any more from the swamped boat. All the first cabin
passengers were on the poop with the exception Of f
gentlemen who must have been smothered IN tho smoLn
room Many Of the second cabin passengers were aIso IN
the poop but number Of them got shut into their cabin
by the fire. Some of them pulled up through tho
venfator but the greater number could not be cxrcad
The last woman who was drawn up said there ware s
aready suhocated We now perceived that the shin had
got her head 70 the wind again, that the flames came
over the quarter deck
In consequence Of the crowd, could not Get to
the wheel house TO ascertain the reason but u..
informed that the helmsman had deserted bis noe.
and that the vessel being left to herself headed 10 The
WIND of ner own accord. AT this time the scene on
the quarter deck was indescribable and truly heart
rendng passengers were rushing francaly 10 and fro
seeking their wives wives in search or their
nusoands relatives looking after relatives mothers Ia
mentng the loss OF their children some wholly uara,
by fear others mady crying to be saved but few per
ecty calm and collected The flames pressed 10 closely
upon them that many jumped into tho sea: relatives
clasped in each others arms caped over and met wa
terry grave two girls supposed to be sisters umpcd over
and sank kissing each other missionary and vv;co
eaped into the sea together and the sewardess and a.
sstant steward, arm in arm, followed One Hunansu,
gentleman ssth seren fine children four of them oirl,
made his pe jump in then blessed his sir eldss ck;l,
made them jump in one after the oter and fozoa ,.,'
scth rfant in his oscn arms.
J. about this time, standing outside the bu,vsrt,
holding on by the davits leaning out 70 avoid tho nan
which were leapng towards me. saw swamped bo.t
under me, spinning by rope still attached TO the Shin a
the oars were tied in her. thought If could get 70 her
wouiu DC enAo'eu W save inysvif and others let NV
self down by rope, passing a man who was cling
IN & huf b0
penknfe to cut the ackle the large blade broke and
then severed II with the small blade T1e sb, n.s.oa
ahead As the screw approached found the boat drawn
towards IT, tried TO keep the boat or but tho scvc
caught and capszed her dived away from the
ship and came 10 the surface boat which was te,
upwards got on her, and by pressing one side with
the assistance OF wave she righted but was stll
swamped Tho oars had been knocked out by the
the only thing could find In her paddle with was somc
lathes nailed together a sheaihng for the sides.
When looked around, the ship was quarter or a
mile away from me. could the ladies' and gentle
men jumping on tho poop into the water in twcs and
tnr5af some ol inc ladies' "a amcs Several hesitaed "a
leap from the burning ship until the last moment as the
height was twenty two feet, and were only at length
compelled TO throw themselves on TO avoid a moro
painful death In half hour not a soul was 20 be
the poop. pulled after the ship and picked nm
a German who swimming strongly; got him beside
me the boat and padded after the shin with The
laths now saw vessel under sail approaching. shc
reached the steamer about r. NJ We continued mill
ing towards them, and about half past seven ocock
after being five hours IN the water got within hail of tho
sailing vessel, which put OF boat and took Us on board
she proved 70 be the French bark Maurice Cant Erues,
Rcnaud of Nantes bound from Newfoundland for Tsle n
Bourbon, with Gsh. She had up 70 that time rescued
forty passengers Of the burning steamer chiefly taken a
the bowsprt though few picked up floating around
Al about eight O'Clock of the metallic boats came nm
with about twenty persons ncudng the first and
third occrs afterwards three four men were picked
up, floating piece Of the broken boat The second
officer was taken M, having been swimming with nothing
float him. for six hours The second and third ofiocrs
were severely burned; male passenger was burned
frightfnly, and some other male passengers slightly
There were but six women saved three OF whom were
burned, one In a shocking manner.
Captain Rcnaud acted with the utmost Kindness he
gave clothes Car he could furnish them to the sur
passengers and acted nurse doctor and surgeon IN
the burned people, dressing the wounds Of the females
with deIcacy and tenderness that cvinced benevolent
and amabe disposition
did not see an officer Of tho shp during the dre and
certain there Of them or the crew on the
poop, except at the wheel for short time run
dcrs,ood that when the Captain heard Of the rc he
rushed on deck without cap and when be saw tho
flames exclaimed I'VE all lost lie tried 70 get out
boat which, when let down, swamped and be, whc.
thcr accidentally not, do not know fell into tho sea
and soon LEFT far behind The fourth oncer was in
this boat lie cut her loose from the davis she was car
ried under the screw and smashed and several in her
drowned; three or four escaped on q fragment and
picked MP by the Maurice, before stated About
the time metallic hfe boat was let down from
the port bow and swampcd, but got cleared away with
about thirty three persons in her including tho arst
and third officers and several women The men
IN this boat capsizcd hes two or thrce times,
In trying 70 clear her of water. Ten persons
were thus drowned, including some women They after.
wards baed her out with life prcscrvers cut In two and
pulled 10 The Maurice having picked up two or three pas
scngcrs before reaching the bark Altogether there
SIXTY souls taken the Mcurice during the