Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1858-01-30
burni:a., Of the

teen tiv0ra-
r, when the
nth aud lon
O,niles from
clock in the
IS hefthed o.,
scd snl,sllsai
.-.. .,-, .,,sssenmy proceeded iron, bc-
meath them in the hold. ItTapidly increas-
ing. the alarm was given to Capt. Castle, VIII j,
ut once ordered the after hold to B., exam,n-
cd, and to the astonish,nent and horror Of all
tho cargo slowed there proved 10 he on fire.
1t is stated that the bulk OF the cargo there
consisted Of government stores. Bale after
ba'e was hauled up in the hope Of getting
at this scat Of the fire: b.t in a short time
the snake became so dense ~ to DEFY onv of
the crew getting further mo the hold
There was no confusion however; every or
der -iYIsas o!e.ed BY men with coolness and
courage The course Of the ship was stop
pei. Colonel Mnffat Was seen in earnest
consultation With Capt. Castle deciding upon
measures for supprcsSiny the flames, while
the soldiers and the crew were actively
employed in taking 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 Willie
hose was put on the donkey engine 1t
soon became apparent that all these cxcr.
tons failed in checking tho progress Of the
fire. Ls
Colonel Moff;,tt, at the suggestion Of the
commander, directed his men to ut once
cast overheard all the ammunition an.l IN a
short time they succeeded in clearing out
the starboard magazine. The remainder o!
the powder, however in the port magazine,
excited great apprchcn>ions. Already had
the after part OF the ship become almost un-
approachable from the dense smoke and
lca. which filled every portion of it. The
colonel appealed to his men for yoluntcc s
to attempt to 'cscuc the contents Of the
powder magazine, now so ,n,c!. threaten
several brave fellows instantly came forward
and hcro:ca!ly succeeded in reaching the mag
azinc, and clearing it, it is supposed, with the
exception Of one or two barrels OF powder.
II was truly a hazardous work, several
ncarly' lost their lives, they became ovcrpow-
cred with heat and smoke and fell and whc,
hauled up on deck by ropes were scnscle>s.
Inc l1ameS soon afterwards burned up tl,r'o
tho deck, and running along the various cab
ms soon set Tie whole on fire. There was
heavy gale blowing at tho time, and Capt.
Castle pcrcsiyins the critical condition Of the
ship, at once took measures for the Safe
lowering Of the boats. They were launched
without III. least accident, til, troops were
,nu stored on deck there was no rush to the
boats, AMI tho mcn mustered az coo!!y and
obcyed the word Of command with a, much
orlcr rs if they had been ON parade Colo
mel MoiE.tt informed them that Captain
Castle did not despair OF saving the shin, but
TOR their own preservation it had been deem
cd advisable to keep the BIAS oil so rs 10
act In case Of emergency.
Tho women and children were lowered
into the port life boat, and she was directed
to stand off until further orders All hands
then turned in TO making RATS OF spare spars.
In short time three were pat together,
which would have been capable of saving a
large portion Of those on board. Capt Cas-
tic succeeded in launching two overheard,
and the third was left across the deck to be
lowered: a. a momcnt'snotice. In the mean.
while, the flames had Asdc terrible progress.
tho whole 81 the. caGns1 and salooS,~ were
one body of fire, and abjat nine O'Clock the
fire burst through, tho deck and ivni,cl the
upper rigging. Through tie ,6rctl,ou.ht
ofCapt. Castle in bringing the ship to the
wind, the fire and smoke were swept stern
wards, but serious anxiety was felt lest the
ship should pay of, and 50 render her de-
struction inevitable. During this fearful
suspense dreadful explosion took place, n,
doubt arising from on, or two barrel, left
in tic port magazine, whic! Dew out the
port quarter. The ship from the main rig
gipg to her stern was one body OF fire
Captain Castle still had hope, although lie
expressed his fears to the conma, ding Off
Ger Of tho troops that that the ship would
bc lost. P'pvidcntially tho bulklrcad in the
after part Of the ship wi,''stood the action Of
the flames. Here Ill efforts were corccn-
tratc,l to keep il cool. Party after party Of
tho troops volunteered lor the work, and so
cndcavoretl to keep the fvc from making
its way forward.
Fov hours did this state Of affairs continue.
Although the man kept the fire ut bay lie.
low i gained the main rigging Mr.. WEIGH,
the chief officer with several Of tic soldiers.
At once went aloft viii, wet blankets and
after considerable peril and risk succeeded
in cxtinsn,s!iiny the flames As it was how
over, some Of the yards were burnt. TO.
wards two o'clock the f,llowin. morning
the mon had The satisfaction Of seeing the
fire diminishing. The fumes were gradual
" beaten back and by daylight wore entire.
~ cx,in.uishcd. 1t was not till then that
tho fearful havoc made was ascerta;ucl -
Tho after part Of the ship, was burnt ou,
merely it's shell remaining; and now ano,:.
or Fate threatened her. The gale still pre-.
vailc,l and the ship was rolling and pitching
in heavy sea, constantly shipping water in
the port quarter, which had cen blown on
by the explosion. She h,,l Is feet Of wafer
in the hold, and active steps were taken to
prevent her laundering All the men were
set to the pump, und Lailins water out Of
tho hold. 7s
Captain Castle, fearing the stern would
TALL out, got two ',awsors un.ler the bottom
ann made thcm rant. The mex, difficulty
was to stop tho water which, was pourin. in
through the quarter. Spare sails and
blankets were placed over the opening and
the leak was partially stoppsd. There was
no abatement in the gale during the morn
ing. AMI every heaye Of the ship the water
tanks in tn. hold sot loose, were dashed
frm one side 10 the other. Tho state Of the
ship, ana the continued severity Of the
weather, rendered the constant workin: OF
the pumps and the battling imperative. It
was = o'clock III the afternoon when the
boats containing the women and children
could Ike got alongside. They ws.e got on
board au'l the other beats. which had been
~ ntS q, a ~ ~ -