American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-02-05
Burning Of the Steamer Sarah Sands
a Thrilling Narrative.

| i W A<''N' PNOi 0irI'" VI, vi hGCtIN- :
ber Soth. gives n,hrilling description Of
the fearful catastrophe TO The iron steam.
er, Sarah Sands, on her passage to In
dia with the head quarters and large
portion Of tho mou Of the 9th regiment
on board, biief account of which we
published yesterday: '%a
The voyage appears to been favora.
blo uBtil The 11th of November, when
the ship had reached LAT. IA S., lon. Sc
=. (npwards of 400 miles from the Mar.
iius.' About three O'clock OF the same
day the troops berthed on tho after or
top deck noticed a smell of burning.
which apparently proceeded from be-
meath them in the hold. The alarm
was given to Captain Castle, who at
once ordered the after hold TO be exam.
ined, and 10 the astouishment aud in.
deed horror of all, the cargo slowed
there proved tn be on tiie. 1t was sta.
ted that the bulk of the cargo consisted
OF government stores. Bale after bale
was hauled up in the hope of getting at
the seat OF the. fire, but in a short time
the smoke became so dense as to aery
any of the crew getting further into the
hold, and filling the whole If the cab.
ms with the sutfncating efiluvia, forced
he ladies' To seek relief on the quarter
deck.
By this time the outbreak became
general throughout the ship, aud as
natural result much alarm was excited.
There was no confusion however, aud
every order was obeyed by the men
with Goodness and contage. The course
OF the ship was stopped Col. Moffat
was sseen In early consultation with Cant.
Castle, deciding upon measures for sup.
pressing the flames. while the crew were
actively engaged intakiug all sail in
END bringing the ship before the wind.
: olheTs ran ont lengths of hose from the
bre engines, which were passed down
to hands below; while hose was also
4 put on to the donkey engine.
1t soon became apparent that all
these exe,tions failed in checking the
/ prog ess of the fire. Colonel Moifat nj
the suggestion of the commander. di
rec'ed his men to at once cast overheard
all their amnnition, aud in a short time
| lhey succeeded in -ciraiing out the star.
/ board magazine. The remainder Of
, -
the powder in the port magazine, how
ever created gGeat apprehension. AL
ready had the itor part of the shin be-
come almost impeentrable from the
dense smoke which filed every portion
Of IT. The colonel appealed to his men
LOT volunteers TO attempt to rescue the
contents of the magazine now so threat,
ed Several brave fellows instantly
came TO ward add heroicalv succeeded
IN reaching the magazine aud clearing
IL VIVID me exception, it is supposed Of
one or two barrels. It was a truly has
aid0ns work several nearly lost their
llveS, having become 0verpowered with
tn" smoke and heat, they fell and when
hauled up by ropes to the deck, they
were senBeless.
lhe Hames soon afterward burst
through the deck, and running alopg
the various cabins speedily set the
whole on fire. There was a heavy oale
blowing at the time, aud the ship was
rolling and pitching. Capt. Castle per,
celvlng the critical position of the shin.
at once took measures for the safe low.
erlng OF The boats. They were launch.
ed without the least accident. and IN,
troops wore mustered on deck. There
was no rush to The boats, and the gaen
compiled with the officers command with
as much Older as On parade. The Ia.
DIES, women and children were 10 wer.
ed into the port-llfeboat. and she was di,
rected to stand of until further orders
All hands then turned to constructive
rats or spare spars. In a short time
Hhrea were put together, and which
would have been capable OF saving
large portion OF those on board. Cant
Castle, succeeded in launching two q.
Yerboard, aud the third was left across
ibe deck TO be lowered at moments
notice.
In the meanwhile the flames had made
terrible progress. The whole of the
cabins, saloon, &c, were one BODY Of
fire; end about nine o'clock the flames
burst through the upper deck and ipri.
ted the mizzen rigging. Through the
fo'ethougb Of Cap, Castle, in bringing
the ship before the wind, the Gre and
smoke we're swept siernways, but seti.
ops anxiety was felt lest the shin should
pay of, and so render her destruction
inevitable. Amidst this fearful suspense
q dreadful explosion took place, no
doubt arising from one or two barrels
iei' in The port magazine, which blew
ont the port.quarter. All was copster.
nat,on--tbe ship from the main rigging
to The etorp, was in ono general body
OF bro. Capt Castle still had hope. al
though he expressed his fears to the com.
nanding officer Of the troops ,ha, the
ship would be lost Ptovidepially tho
bulkbead of tho sfor part Of the ship
withstood the action oftbo flames. Here
oil efforts were concentrated to keen /,
cool. Party after party of the troops
volunteered for the work. and q, endeav.