New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-18
FEARFUL BURNING OF THE SARAH SANDS
SCREW STEAMER.
ENTRAORDINARN

We regret to announce fearful catastrophe bv
fire happening the Sarah Sands transport steamer on
her passage TO India from Portsmouth, with the head
quarter. and large portion Of the Of the 5ith
Regiment on board whose preservation. and that of
| the may be fairly considered one OF the most
marvellous on record, az may be inferred from the
fact that the ship was burning fsriously in heavy
gale of wind sixteen hours the whole of her after part
| being burnt ont to a shell.
The Sarah Sands was an iron ship Of 600 uns bur
den and formerly employed in running from Liver
pool to North America She was chartered by the
East India Company for the conveyance of troops to
India and on the 10th of last August she left Ports
mouth for Calcutta under the command of Capt j. $.
Castle, with portion of tho 5ih regiment board,
comprising Lieut. Col. Moffatt Capts. Brett Thomp-
son and Gilum; Lieuts. Gabraith, Hughes and
Crompei Ensign Wood, Lieut.. and Adjutant Hous-
ton, Surgeon Grant, Assistant Surgeon Donovan.
Quaiternaster Hpkin. Paymaster Daniel, 81 Ser
geants IL C)rporals, ii Drunmers, SOC rank and e
Swomen, children, and number of ladies, relatives
of the officers. The voyage appears to have been ia
vorable until the 18th of November, when the ship
had reached lat II ), Ion. 81 upward OF 400 miles
from the Mauritiusl. About O'Clock in the after
noon of that day the troops berthed on the after
deck noticed strong smell of burning which ap-
parenty proceeded from beneath them in the
hold. 1t rapidly increasing the alarm as given to
Capt Castle, who at ouce ordered the after-hold
to be examined, and TO the horror of all, the cargo
slowed there proved to be on fire. 1t stated 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 short time the smoke
further into the hold. and it filled the whole of the
cabins with the suocating efluva, the ladies sought
relief on the quarterback. BY this time the outbreak
became general throughout the ship, and, as natural
result much alarm excited. There con-
fusion, however, and every order Obeyed by the
men with GOODNESS and courage. The course of the
ship was stopped. COL Mofatt was i'll early con-
sultaon with Capt. Castle deciding upon measures
for suppressng the flames, while the crew were ac-
lively employed in taking all sail in and bringing the
ship before the wind Others out lengths of
f,..t, Lob.
to hands below, while hose was also put
to the donkey-engine. 1t soon became appa-
rent TINT all these Sc. e5ertions failed in checking
suggestion of the commander, directed his to al
once cast overheard all their ammunition, and in
short time they succeeded in clearing out the star
board magazine. The remainder of the powder
in the port magazine, however, excited great appre
hensiOn. Already had the after part Of the ship
become almost uhtsnable from the dense smoke and
heat which filed every portion OF 1t. The Colonel
apeaed TO his men a volunteers to attempt to rescue
tie contents Of the magazine. now so threatened.
s-reral brave fellows instant" CONE forward, and
heroicaly succeeded n reaching the magaz inc and
clearing it, viii the exception of one or two barrs.
| 1t was very hazardous work ana several nearly
lost their lives as they became overpowered with the
smoke and heat, and fell; aud when hauled up by
ropes to the deck they were senseless. The flames
| soon afterward bust up through the aeck, and,
running along the various cabins speedily set the
| whole on fire. There was heavy gale blowing
at the time, aud the ship was rolling and pitch
ING. Captain Castle, perceivng the critical po-
sition of tie ship, at once took measures for the
safe lowering OF the boats. Ihey were launched
without the least accident the troops were mustered
on deck there rush TO the boats, and the men
complied with the commands Of their officers with as
much order as on parade. Captain Motfatt informed
them that Captain Castle did not despair Of saving the
ship, but for their own preservation it had been
deemed advisable TO keep the boats off, so As to act IN
case of emergency. The ladies, women and children
we've lowered into the port life boat, and she was d
81, IofGt fuv+b orIer A III lands
turned to constructing RATS Of spare spar In short
time three were put together, which would have been
capable Of saving large portion OF those on board
CAPTAIN Castle succeeded in launching two overheard
and tie third left the deck to be lowered at
a moments notice. In the meanwhile, the flames had
made terrible progress. The whole of the cabins,
saloon, &C., were one body of fire. aud about nine
occCS H., flames burt through the upper decks and
gnited the mzzen rigging Through the orethought of
Capt Castle in bringing the ship before the wind the fire
and smoke were swept sternways, bH serious anxiety
Was felt lest the ship should pay Of and render its
destruction inevitable. Amid this fearful suspense,
dreadful explosion took place, no doubt arising from
one or two barrels left in the port magazine, which
blew out the port quarter. All CONSERVATION,
ard the ship from the main rigging to her stern was
in one general body of fire. Captain Castle still had
hopes although he expressed his fears TO the COM
manding officer of the troops that the ship would be
lost Providentialy the bukhead of the after part OF
the ship withstood the action of the fames Here all
efforts were concentrated to keep cool. Party after
party Of the troops volunteered tor the work. and 80
pnteQNOreQ
ward As it was several fell senses from the suto-
eating influence of the smoke, and were dragged up
apparently dead. To the great honor of the troops
they obeyed the directions of their officers win
a calmness and energy which almost as
founding and but for which the ship must have
perished and doubtless many OF those on board
with her For hours did this state OF affairs con-
tinue. Although the men kept the fire at bay
below il gained the main rigging. Mr. Nelch, the
chief officer with several of the soldiers at once went
aloft with wet blankets and after considerable peru
ard risk succeeded in exngulshlng the names. a
was, however. some of the yards were destroyed
Toward two o'clock the following morning, the men
had the satisfaction of seeing the fire diminishing but
il only had the effect of inducing them to continue
their exeltons, with if possible, almost double en-
ergy. The flames were gradually beaten back ana Dy
DAYLIGHT their entire annhllatlOn was accomplished:
II was not till then that the full extent of the fearful
havoc made by the fire was clearly ascertaned Inc
after part of the ship was burnt out, merely us sre
remaining and now another fate threatened her me
gale still revealed ard the ship was rolling ana Pcn
ing in heavy sea- constantly shipping considerable
water at the port quarter which had been blown OUT
by the explosion She had Il feet Of water in her hold
and active steps had to be taken to prevent her l0u
dering All the men set 10 the pumps ana Dali
ing water out of the hold. Captain Castle, fearing the
stern would fall out got two hawsers under her DOT
| tom md made them tauti the next diihculty wss ~
| stop the water, which was pouring IN through tue
quarter Spare sails and blankets were placed over
the opening and the leak partially stopptu'
There was no abatement in the gale during the morn
ing and in every heave OF the ship the water tat ~
the hold which had got loose, were dashed lroHi Wy
side TO the other. The state of the ship, ana Inc Con-
tinued severity of the weather, rendered Tue con
slant working of the pumps and the ballng hiPeis
tive. 1t not till O'Clock III the aitsrnoTHi no; Ia
| the boats containing the women ana eh -
| could be cot alongside They were got on O9aiu,
| and the other boats, which had been o'aefeu VI
during tie raging of the fire, returned, VIII tue eA0P
ton Of the gig which had been swampet during NJ
| night. The officer in charge of her. however MI
L l.i.o bo,I "a. Eei III Ia