Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1858-01-30
burni:a..es the
been G,yora-
+, when the
nth and lon
~ miles from
clock in the
l,o,,t1,o.l ~,


the cargo slowed there proved 10 BE- on fire.
1t is stated that The bulk OF the cargo there
consisted Of government stores Bale af, or
bale was hauled up in the hope Of getting
at tbs scat Of the fire: b.t in short t;ut,
the smoke became SO dense as to defy any Of
the crew getting further mo the hold
There was no confusion however; every or.
- der "; o!@"ed by men with GOODNESS and
courage. Tao course of The ship was stop
pei Colonel MofIat was seen in earnest
consultation with Capt. Castle deciding upon
measures for supprcSSins The flames, while
the soldiers and the crew were actively
employed in tak'n,; all sail in and bringing
the Shi, before The wind Others ran out
lengths Of hose from the fire engines, which
were passed. down TO hands below while
hose was put on the donkey engine: 1t
soon bcca nc apparent that all these cxcr
tons failed in checking the progress Of the
fire.
Colonel MofE,tt, at the suggestion Of the
commander, directed his men to ut once
cast overheard all the ammunition anil IN a
short time they succeeded in clearing out
the starhoard magazine. The remainder of
the powder, however in the port lna-az nc.
excited great apprchcn>onS. Already had
the after part OF the ship become almost I'M
approachable from the dense smoke and
hca. which filled every portion of ii. The
colonel appealed to his men for ycluntcc s
to attempt to rescue the Contents Of the
powder magazine, now so m,l:!, threat cncd
several brave fellows instantly came forward
and lcro:caly succeeded in rc.c|n: The mag
az|nc, and clearing it, it is supposed, with the
exception OF one or two barrels or POWDER
1t was truly hazardous work, several
ncarly' lost their lives, they became ovcrpow-
cred with heat and smoke and fell and whca
hauled up on deck by ropes were Scnsce<s.
The flames soon afterwards burned ND thr'o
the deck and running along The various cab
ins soon set HE whole on fire There was
heavy gale blowing at the time, and Capt.
Castle pcvc,ivins the critical condition of the
ship, at once took measures for The safe
lowering Of the boats They were launched
without The least accident tn, troops were
lnu stored on deck, there was 10 rush to the
boats, AMI tho mcI mustered az coo!!y and
obcyed the word OF command with as much
order as i they had been on parade Colo
mel Mollatt informed them that Captain
Castle did not despair OF saving the ship but
for their own preservation it had been deem
cd advisable to keep the bias oil so as TO
act In case Of emergency.
The women and children were lowered
into the port liz. boat, and she was directed
to stand off until further orders. All hands
then turned in to making RATS OF spare sp,rs
In short time three were put together,
which would have been capable of saving a
large portion Of those on board Capt Cas-
tic succeeded in lannchin, two overheard,
and the third was Left acros, the deck to be
lowcrc':a a a momcntsnotice. In the mean
while, the flames had Ado terrible progress,
the whole Of the cab.ns, and saloos,~ were
ono body of fire, and ab}ht nine o'clock the
fire burst through the deck and i:;nitcd the
upper rigging. Through tie ,f0rctho,,yl,t
OF Capt. 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 off, and 50 render her de-
strucion inevitable. Dur;n. this fearful
suspense a dreadful explosion took place, n,
doubt arising from on. or two barrel, left
in Tic port magazine, whic!, blew out the
port quarter. The ship from the main rig
glng to her stern was one body Of fire
Captain Castle still had hope, although lie
expressed his fears to the comma, ding OIL.
Ger Of tho troops that that the shin would
he lost Providcntially tho buIkhcad in the
atterpart Of the ship wi,IStool the action of
the flames. Here all efforts were corccn-
tratcd to keep ii cool. Party after ,mrty of
the troops volunteered for the work, and so
cndcavorcd to keel, the ti.c from making
its way forward
Fo: hours did this state Of affairs continue.
Although the man kept the fire ut bay be-
low i gained the main RIGGING. Mr.. Wclch
the chief officer with several Of the soldiers
ut once went aloft Will, wet blankets and
after considerable peril and risk succeeded
cxtinsusAiny the flames. As it was how
over some Of the yards were burnt. TO.
wards two O'Clock the following morning
the men had the satisfaction Of scciu: the
fire diminishing The fumes were gradual.
" beaten back and by daylight were entire.
~ cx,ir-n'>hcl. 1t was not till then that
tho fearful havoc made was asccrta;nc.l-
Tho after part OF the ship, was burnt out,
merely it's shell remaining; and now anot:,
or fate threatened her. The yale still nrc-
vailed and the ship was rolling and pitching
in u heavy sea, constantly slipp;n. water in
tho port quarter, which had lcen blown ON
by the explosion. She hal Is feet of wafer
in the hold, and active steps were taken to
prevent her laundering All the men wcrc
set to the pumps unl hailinS water out of
the hold
Captain Castle fearing the stern would
fall out, got two iawscrs under the hottom
ann made them raut. The next difficulty
was to stop the water which was pourin. in
through the quarter. Spare sails and
blankets were placed over the opening and
the leak was partially stopp>,l. There was
no abatement in the gale during The morn
Ing, and every hcave Of the ship The water
tanks in tn, hold got loose, were dashed
from one side 10 the other. Tho state of the
ship, AMI the continued severity Of the
weather, rendered the constant working of
the pumps and the battling imperative 1t
was , o'clock in the afternoon when the
boats ccn'anin. the women and children
could Ike got alongside. They ws.e got on
board AMI She other beats which had been
or;icr, oil during i,e raging ot the Ire. re-
med, with 'hr exception OF the Si-, which
hal been >wampei during the night: the
officer in Charge of her. however. Mr. Wood,
and all hands We're picked up b. another
boat.
puri',. TIA, renandcr Of tn ,!,y the sn,,.
lowing nigh. Gnd succeeding day. shs wI,ole
Of the hands and tr,opS were .n-a.cd
work;n: the pumps and clearing The ship ct
the water, ly the evening "fthe 18th, the
racw succeeded in securing the stern and
ge,,!n: s'ecage way on The ship, She hal
then driitc,! n far rs longitude IL dseS Il
minutes south. Capt. Castle then Sc, all
sail and bYs up in the hope Of mak;m.
Nautilus, ana 10 IT,. ny rs al| on board.