Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-01-29
From the Liverpool Mercury Of December 80.

quarters and large portion of the of the 54th
gment on board whose preservation and that of the
crew may be fairly considered of the most marvellous
on record as may be inferred from the fact that the ship
was burning furiousy in heavy gale of wind sixteen
hours the whole of her arpart being burned out to
shell.
The Sarah Sands, an iron Ship upwards of 1000 tons
burthen, chartered by the East India Company for
the conveyance of troops to India and on the 10th OF
August she left Portsmouth for Calcutta under the
command of Capt. j. S. Castle, with portion of the
54th regiment board including 81 sergeants Is
porals IL drummers 306 rank and le women I chill
dren, and a number of ladies. The voyage appears to
have been favorable until the 18th OF November, when
the ship had reached lat Ia S. long Sc E. upwards Of
400 miles from the Mauritus.) About three o'clock in
the afternoon of that day the troops berhed on the after
or top deck noticed smell of burning which apparent
ly proceeded from beneath them in the hold. The alarm
was given to Capt Castle who at once ordered the a
ter hold to be examined and to the astonishmen and
indeed horror of ALL the cargo slowed there proved to be
on fire. 1t was stated that the bulk OF the cargo cOnss
ted of government stores. Bale after bale hauled
up in the hope of getting at the seat of the fire. but in
short time the smoke became dense as to defy any OF
the getting further into the hold, and filling the
whole of the cabins with the suocating etuvia forced
the ladies to seek relief on the quarter deck.
By this time the outbreak became general throughout
the ship and a natural result much alarm was excited
There confusion, however, and every order was
obeyed by the men with GOODNESS and courage. The
in early consultation with Captain Castle, deciding
upon for suppressing the flames, while the
crew were actively employed in taking all sail In and
bringing the ship before the wind Others ran out
enths of hose from the fire engines which were passed
down to hands below while hose also put to the
donkey engine 1t soon became apparent that all these
exertions failed in checking the progress of the fire.
Col Moct at the suggestion of the commander, direct
ed his to at cast overheard all their ammun
ton, and in short time they succeeded in clearing out
he Thp n
in the port magazine, however, excited great apprehen
sons. Already had the afterpart of the ship become
almost mpenetrabe from the dense smoke and heat which
filled every portion of it, The Colonel appealed to his
for volunteers to attempt to the contents Of
the magazine, so threatened. Several brave fell
lows instantly came forward and heroicaly succeeded
in reaching the magazine and clearing it, with the ex
cepton it is supposed of one or two barrels 1t was
truly hazardous work several nearly lost Their lives,
having become over-powered with the smoke and heat,
they fell and when hauled up by ropes to the deck they
were Senseless
The flames soon afterwards burst up through the deck
and running along the various cabins, speedily set the
whole on fire There heavy gale blowing at the
time, and the ship rolling and pitching. Captain
Castle percevng the critical position of the ship, at
took for the safe lowering Of the boats
They launched without the least accident and the
troops mustered on deck. There was no rush to
the boats and the complied with their officers COM
mandS with as much order as on parade The ladies',
and children were lowered into the port life boat
and she directed to stand off until further ORDERS
All hands then turned to constructing RATS of spars In
short time three put together and which would
have been capabeof saving large portion of those on
board. Capt. Castle succeeded in launching two over
board and the third left across the deck to be low
cred at moments notice In the meanwhile, the flames
had made terrible progress The whole OF the cabins,
| saloons, &c, body of fire and about nine
o'clock the flames burst through the upper deck and g
nited the mizzen rigging Through the forethought of
Capt. Castle in bringing the ship before the wind, the
fire and smoke swept tenways but serious ankle
ty felt lest the ship should pay off, and render her
destruction inevitable. Amidst this fearful suspense a
dreadful explosion took place. doubt arising from
or two barrels left in the port magazine which blew out
| the porttIuarter
| All was consternation-the ship, from the main rig
glng to her stern was in one general body of fire. Cap
tain Castle still had hope although he expressed his fears
to the commanding officer Of the troops that the ship
would be lost Providenally the bulkhead of the after
part of the ship wthsood the action the flames Here
all efforts were concentrated to keep it COOL Party after
party of the troops volunteered for the work. and so en-
deavored to prevent the fire making its way forward
AS it was several fell senseess from the sufocating nu
ence OF the smoke, and were dragged up apparently
dead With the greatest honor to the troops, they
obeyed the directions of their officers with camness
and energy which almost astounding, and but for
which the ship must have perished and doubtless many
OF lives on board with her. For hours did this state Of
affairs continue Although the kept the fire at bay
below, it gained the main rigging Mr. WEIGH the CHIEF
officer with several of the soldiers at went alof
with wet Blankets and, after considerable peril and risk
succeeded in extinguishing the flames AS it was how
ever, some OF the yards were destroyed Towards two
o'clock the following morning the had the satsfac
ton OF seeing the fire diminishing, but only had the
effect OF inducing them to continue their eXerons with
If possible, most double energy. The flames were
gradually beaten back and by daylight accomplish
ed their entire annlhlatiOn 1t not till then thai
the fearful havoc made by the fire clearly ascertain
ed The after part of the ship burnt out, merely it
shell remaining and now another fate threatened her.
The gale still prevailed, and the ship rolling
pitching IN heavy sea- constantly shipping cOnsidera
BILE water at the port quarter which had been blown
by the explosion She had Is feet of water in the ho
and active steps had to be taken to prevent her founder
ing All the men were set to the pumps ard battling
water out of the hold Captain Castle fearing the ser
would fall out, got two hawsers under her bottom ant
made them taut the next difficulty to stop the wa
ter which was pouring in through the quarter, Spar
sails and blankets placed the opening and tn
leak was partially stopped There was no abatement il
the gale during the morning and in every heave of tn
ship the water tanks in the hold which had got loose
were dashed from side to the other The state of tn
ship and the continued severity of the weather. rendere
the constant working of the pumps and the bang in
perative. It not until o'clock in the afternoo
that the boat containing the women and children coul
be got alongside. They got on board and othe
boats which had been ordered off during the raging
the fire. returned, with the exception of the gig whc
had been swamped during the night. The officer
charge OF her, however, Mr.. Wood and the hands,
. picked up by another boat. During the remainder
the day. the following night, and the succeeding day. tt
whole of the hands and troops were engaged in workn
the pumps and clearing the ship of the water. By tt
evening of the 18th the succeeded in securing til
stern and getting Storage way ON the ship She ha
then drlfted as far long l3 II S. Capt Castle The
set all sail and bore up in the hope of making the MAJ
ritus and, to the joy of all board, made that port
eight days, where her arrival and marvellous escape
r cited considerable sensation. The officers in comman