Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-11-25

could carry no more than one-balf the persons
IN the ship, and the sea ran 80 high that no
boat could be launched In safety, nor live long,
crowded as they must necessarily have been.
Their only chance was Of being picked up ;
but this was a forlorn hope, ashley were out
OF the track Of vessels, and those who realized
the full extent Of their danger felt that their
destruction was simply a question Of hours.
Still they worked with a viii, adopting every
means TO smother the FIRE. The morning Of the
24th broke at lenghth, but the sea still rsn
high, and the ship scndd-d before the wind.
About noon the forevard came down by the run,
but without ~ipiuring any one. There was evil
IDENTIFY very little bore, and msnv 81 those
on board becams quite resigned to their terri
bic fate. The decks became very bot, and the
flames were expected every moment to be'seen
issuing from the bows, and they were in dread
Of the foremost giving away, which must have
preeipitated their fate, as its fall must have
torn up part OF the deck. through which the
flames would burst. At this stage the captain,
purser, and Mr.. Fowler threw bottles over
board, containing details Of the sad e~stastro-
phe. Their rescue from impending death Is
thus described by Mr.. Fowler.
"The captain, chief officer, purser, doctor,
Mr.. Warner, the other chief cabin passenger,
and myself, went into the saloon at 2 O'Clock,
P. NJ, to eat something, for we were all becom-
ing faiRt. We were eating what we believed
to be our last meal, but we were at calm, and
even cheerful, Captain johnson asking to be
excused for the manner in which he was break
ing mp the preserved salmon, which, with a few
biscuits, was to form our dinner; and | for APP
pearing at dinner In such a guise being literally
covered, hands and face, with tar. At about
2-30 O'Clock, p. H., and when about TO say
good-by,' in case Of not meeting again before
the final catastrophe. we were startled with the
cry Of "a ssilP I do not know how we all
tumbled on deck, but we were there In an IN
slant. How I looked to windward. and how
faint and in Tfelt when / at first failed to per-
ceive ANYTHING but The ocean and a few black
clouds Just at the edge Of the horizon ; how
we all at last saw the sail, Just like 4 distant
gull-she was ceming Down upon us-close by
the sdge OF the suns rays on the sea; how We
all chesred, and wept and prayed, and laughed
aud clasped each others bands, and cheered
again. In less than bali an hour from the time
We FIRST sighted her, the vessel, which proved
to be the MeTehGaimGn, Of and from London,
with troops for Calcutta, passed close under
our stern. How we chesred her, ard abe return
ed our cheer. Our captain hailed through bis
trumpet, 8 We are on fire, will you stand By
ss2' To which Captain Brown returned a
hearty Aye, aye, and send ny boats to assist
YOU
asoon two Of the kerrhGntmGa's boats and
three Of our own were launched; bat the sea
still was high, and We expected every moment
70 see some OF them swamped or dashed In
pieces alongside but, thanks to the first and
second officers Of the MeTcsantmGa, and Of our
own officers in charge Of the boats, they were
conducted between the two vessels without a
single accident. We first embarked the women
and children, and By sP N I'VE were all safely
on board the M~TohGstmGn, our csptain being
the last 70 leave.
HOn arriving on board the Merchantmen,
awar-Hhfrn haL han rrowFHaA he Ga-fafu
Brown, for the relief and comfort Of the res
cued passengers, in which he was assisted by
Captain Dawson, commanding the troOps.
They had prepared hot tea and biscuits for
four hundred The women and children were
accommodated in The cUddy and officers rooms
and the crew and passengers mustered snd told
of to mess with the soldiers and sailors with
out the slightes. confusion. The Merchantmen
stood By the burning ship during the night, and
81 about 2 A. u, the flames burst over The top
gallanimaEt forecastie; socn after the fore
mast went over The side, and in half a. hour
the main and mizEen masts vent, and soon az
ter she wss a mass OF flames. We could see
her still burning until about 5 O'Clock A. n,
when the EsTchGEfman, having stood for Table
Bay, the distance became too grest FOR Us to
dis irguish other than 4 dark cloud resting
against the horizon, which vas the last we saw
OF cur sbip.
" We in the E1st cabin saved a portion Of our
luggage, but The whole Of the other passengers
and the majority Of the crew lost everything.
But VIC were all truly thankful for our preser-
walton from a terrible AMI inevitable death, and
We all feel that The finger OF Providence
was in il, for had the Merchantmen not been
obliged TO put into Rio De Janerio, in conss
Qlence Of the illness Of her medical officer Their
IN charge Of the troops, she could not have
been so far out Of Der course, and in 4 position
to rescue u.s.
The origin Of the fire has been attributed to
spontaneous combustion, OF the friction Of
badly slowed packages, during the previous
day, when the ship rolled 50 heavily in the
high sea. The ship, cargo, and property be-
longing to the passengers have been estimated
at E90, 00O or Eco 600.