The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-02-09
The late Disaster on the Bay-BurDing
Of the Magnificent Steamer North
CorolSno

SoAShuo'
Saturday morning, about half pas,
o'clock, when the steamer was of the
mouth Of the Potomac. and distant from
Smiths Point life boat about FIVE miles,
the watchmau discovered fire in the
clothes room, which is sitpatel on the
larboard side Of the upper saloon. in the
vicinity OF the engines. 1t is supposed
that the FIRE WAS COMMUNICATED TO the
linen, in ,he clothes closet, by boy who
yas seep to g0 ip With Q capIle.
The discovery nf the Ere vas ipmedi'
ateIy reported to Capt. Cannon, who was
in the wheel house, n post from WHICH he
had not been absent one moment after
the departure OF the steamer from Balti
more Capt. g. stopped the boat direct
ly, apd with great coo!uess put all bands
t. work at suppr.ssing the flames. lie
had all the passengers aroused ~ quickly
as possible, and ib such way ns to ere
ate rs little CONSERVATION rs possible un
der the circumstances. The steam pumps
were Immediately put in operation aud
continued until they were destroyed 10y
fire; and the steam was let off directly
the alarm WAS given. The Captain, pur.
ser, officers aud crew ac,ed with great
heroisrn, and were the last to leave the
burning wreck. The passengers display
ed great selfpossess;on. and did all in
their power to aid each other.
The flames spread glth alTming rapid
ity. From the time tea alarm WAS given
until the passengers were compelled to
leave tn. coat, it was only few short
hours. The fire burnt towards the stern
aud very soon eIled the upper saloqn
with dense smoke and flame. 1t Was no,
long before the only communication he
tween fore aud aft WAS through the lower
cabin. About 20 minutes aft ter the alarm
the upper saloon commenced falling
What made il very fearful was. tha, those
on fore and aft of the deck could only
communicate with each other bv going
down below, which it WAS very dtngerou,
20 do. rs the wood work around the ma
chinery in the lower cabin WAS burning
fiercely. All efforts 70 s8ye the steamer.
however, were unYg4ling and the passen'
gers and Grey had 70 make their escape
10y the boats aud raft The deyoqrIpg
element spread with sucL fearful r,EiIrty
that two ayes were lost. The Rev. DR..
Curtis, Of South Carolina, and a negro
steward. The survivors reached the
Smiths Poin, Light Boat in ssisty, after
wandering in the fog for seyer4l baurs,
and were subsequently taken off 10y the
steamer Locust Point. Sunday morning
where they were taken eff by the steamer
Georgis and carried up to Norfolk and
Portsmouth.
Capt. Cannon acted n"bly. After hav.
ing stood by the wheel from the time lie
left Baltimore rnll ,lye fire occurred, with
out any reireslineni, he worked with in
domitable energy to subdue the q 'mes
Finding this useless. he superint ,nd..I tbs
construction Of . raft for The safety q the
passengers md crew, supplying 1t with
Compass md light, 10. was the Las,
to leave the burGing vessel. and hal al,
most to be forced intg the boat The
captain lost $3.50 in goIl af his own mon
ey. and all bis wardrobe. His heroic
condget will never he iYJgQtten:
1t is stated that every man belonging
coolly and brsvely, aud u their courage.
Gus efforts, in a gres, degree, is ascribed
the escape Of all the passengers save one.
II WAS impossible TO 2aye The mails.
Mr.: Wilson, the efficient mail agent, did
all lie could 10 render assis,ancp to the
passengers. The Government cannot
complain, however, for Gy y mere acci
dent, S2OQ,9Q9 Of government funds,
which were TO hare been taken down il
the h9rth Carolina, were de,aineb VEIL
The next day. This amount arrived safe
ly Sunday morning in tho Georgia.
Two unfortunate persons persisted in
the flames. The Rev. DR.. Curtis. Of Ches.
ter, Souh Carolina, An Episcopal minis
ter. WAS returning home hurriedlv, TO at
tend the funeral Of n member Of his fam
ilv. lie hal n state room, (No. III
very near where the fire br"ks out, and
not being AROUSED by the noise. perish ed
in the merciless flames. The passenyers
say that hs WAS IN elderly gentleman q.
polished manners. and suffered from par.
llal deaiRess, which affection NAV have
caused him to sleep on in the midst OF
the fearful scene which WAS being enacted
around him. A passenger states tha,
when he last saw bin he WAS reading his
Bible.
The negro steward who perished was
named saac Waters. lie had retired
for the night, ana being tired and gensr.
ally a sound sleeper, WAS oysytaksn by
the flames and thus doubtless smathered
aad burned.
After the fire lr9ke oBt 10 the upper
saloon il sprsad so rapidly ths, 40 lime
was given to awake these slseping in lhs,
saloon aft Of the machinsry. NJ Henry
Crapton, 'is wife sni infant, o. Whining
ton North Carolina, were sleeping 10 this
part OF the saloon. The fire had made
fearful progress, and nearly every soul
had left the ah OF the boat, before Mrs.
CraPon a~oke. She instantly aroused
her hush and Ita ;un,,a.l 49, -. 49,.