The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-01
BURNING OF THE STEAMER NORTH CARO-
LIMA.
BOAT ENTIRELY DESTROYED.
ONLY TWO LIHES LOST

ONL1 fWO LIVES LOST
Inc hne steamer North Carolina, of the Baltimo1
ana norfolk line, was burned to the waters edo
9n oaturoay morning About church time on Sur
Company, received despatch from Can't LLOYD ?
rarks purser of the North Carolina, stating tba
the boat took fire when short distance beloy
nnitn roint, near the mouth of the Potomac, an
was total loss and that all board were saved ex
cept kev. Mr. Curtis, an Episcopal minister of Che,
ter D. T., and one of the stewards of the boat Otbe
dispatches were received by other parties from tn
same officer, confirming the intelligence. TIL
steamer Georgia, Capt. Pearson, reached her wbar
at ociock yesterday morning, with the particular
of the disaster
The boat left Baltimore as usual on Friday eve
Hring, with 20 passengers and of 40 persons
capt. James Cannon in command, Capt Lloyd r
Parks, .purser; Mr.. NOAH Bratt chief engineer: Mr.
brownley, assistant engineer; Mr.. Isaac Wilson
acting United States mail agent; Mr.. James Mar
shall first mate; and Mr.. Thos. J. P. Walker, Sc
como mate. At little after 4 o'clock, the boa
belng about five miles below Smiths Point liobt
boat, the colored Waterman, Hanson dscoyeTed
nre IN the Stewards room, just forward of the lar
ooara "neel mouse. He quietly notified CAPTAIN
cannon, who at once ordered the pumps to he
started, and the passengers were aroused and fold
10 De In readiness 20 leave the boat II was soon
| found that the boat could not be saved. and The
enorts OF the officers and crew were turned to the
saving OF lie. The steamer was going at the rate
OF about nine miles an hour and it was feared tbot
the heat would cause explosion of the boilers
out the order being given, John Tolson, a fireman
!he FISK OF his life, opened the valve with piece
one of the hands, did his duty on the upper decR
until the deck fell under him. and he saved himself
by clingng to the stancheons
Inc passengers were at first in state of conster
natloh out the cooness of the officers and discipline
OF the crew Gained the passengers, and thew cheer
fully Obeyed orders,
The steamer carried four large lfe-boats, with q
large supply of lfe-buoys, and had on board
IN ar r IolS H.
RATS. "
whist some of the officers were arousing the
passengers and directing them to the safest part of
.ne steamer forward, others engaged in get
ting the boats into the water. This was NOT ac
complished without difficulty and exposure tn tho
heat; so much so that the tackng of the last boat
was burning when it was lowered into the water
Two OF tne boats were filled with passengers, two
only OF the crew being put into each to manage
ner. one OF these put off, though against the Can
talns orders, who desired that all Should he kent
together as the fog was so dense. The rapid adj
vance e. Oh tne names drove the passengers forward
ana the remaining boats were brought there to he
loaded Soon all the passengers were embarked
ana the boats fastened together kept alongside nj
the steamer. The deck hands had in the meantime
constructed ana launched raft, upon which thir-
All on board being then as it was supposed safe
the officers employed the few moments left in sur
Uey OF those portions of the boat to which the
names name alloWeo approach Capt Cannon secured
*,
went went through the lower saloon looking for and
calling out for any person who might have silent
through the alarm. He found no one.
But lew OF the passengers on the upper mart of
tne ooat saved even their apparel The ladies rushed
out in their night clothes and there was No onnor
tunlty to afterwards obtain any of them from the
state-rooms. Blankets were however. obtained
rom tne oerths and distributed among them Some
OF the passengers climbed from the upper deck
down to the lower by the stancheons, and durino
tnese movements of intense CONSERVATION sevaral
lives were very nearly lost. Mr. II. Cranen. who
was one OF the passengers on board with his wife
utterable alarm, threw his child overheard. and
then jumped in himself. His wife immediately fol-
lowed MIN, but fortunately of the boats was in
the water by the time, and they were ALL with some
difficulty, rescued.
Capt Henry Fitzgerald, who for many wears has
peen very favoraby known as a merchant of this
city, had turned in at the usual hour in one of the
state-rooms on the hurricane deck, and was not
steamer was on fire and himself in danger of nerisb.
ing, he jumped from his berth, and obtaining a
rope, was IN the act of lowering himself to reach
one OF the life boats but when half way between
water ana the deck the fastening of the rope gave
way. Utterly unable to swim, he succeeded bv
constant effort in keeping upon the surface of the
water until he was safely caught hold of and drawn
into the nearest boat
There were seven ladies on board the boat. all Of
whom barely escaped to the small boats in their
night clothes, not having an opportunity tn oct
even their shoes and stockings. The only exception
was lady whose nervous condition would not al
low ner 10 sleep, and she was in full Dress as she
had not gone to bed
1t is believed that the passenger who was burnt
9p.the Rev. Mr.. Curtis, of South Carolina-was
neaf and could not hear the noise and stir of the
1mehts lett the passengers to escape after the
alarm had been spread He was the PRINCIPAL of a
college at Chester, S. Co. and is supposed to have
died OF suffocation The colored steward. Isaiah
w ALTERS was not seen, though other of the stew
aros went to the apartment where he staid several
times for blankets In which to wrap the ladies who
had lost all their clothing
All on board had been placed in the boats except
The two named. Then Capt. Cannon left his place |
IN the upper deck and got into one of the boats
ollowed by the engineers.
At twenty minutes past three about an hour |
liter the hre was discovered the boats and raft left
he steamer. So dense the fog at the time that |
It one hundred yards distance they lost sight of the
arnlng steamer, but knew not what course to steer
mere was compass on board of one of the boats
ut IL would not work. Capt Cannon's boat led |
nu the otner boats, eacn with an oIncer on BOARD
oiowed all connected by lines, and the raft towing
stern: The boats not being crowded the men on
ne rant were taken in them, and the raft cut loose
ne Dell at the light boat was now heard and thew
teered Tor 1t and reached the boat at five O'Clock,
lavlng on the way hailed and secured the boat
which first left the North Carolina
capt. Heyden, OF the light boat heard the boats
and supposed some disaster had oc-
urred, though he had seen nothing of the fire. He
arrest welcome, and did everything to make them
The ladies were sheltered and warmed.
no not coffee and such other provisions ms his re
ources permitted were promptlv nranaro5 -
supplied. "AN
1t was ascertained at this time on calling the List
u passengers and roll of the men that Rev. Mr.
S S' ana walters, the steward, were lost. Mr..
;urtls occupied state-room No. II, on the upper
eck, some distance forward of the point where the
Ire originated. Beside the measures taken 10
'waken the passengers, good deal of noise was
made In his vicinity in tearing down doors and other
materials for the raft. He was, however. NOT seen
he colored steward, Walter, slept in the lower
abin. He was seen by no one Capt. Parks. who
assed through that cabin before leaving the boat
links he was not there then.
Inc Dell OF the light boat was rung constantly |
which attracted the attention of Captain French Of
he steamer Locust Point of the Cromwell line.
e e Tor New York. Captain F. lay alongside the
lie-boat until about seven O'Clock in the evening
Fhen the fog cleared off, and he took all on board
no proceeded to Hampton Roads, where he await
q the arrival of the Georgia. to which vessel they
we're transferred and taken to Norfolk.
Mr.. Edward Chamberlain, the Adams Express
ne boat was on fire to the Express Company's
partment and secured the money packages around
is waist 1t is believed that Adams 4 Co.'s Ex-
ress lose by this catastrophe, somewhere in the
eisnoorhood OF $1,000. But we understand, by
ortunate accident, they were prevented from
'slng 100000, Government funds, which was ex-
ected here to pay off, but did not get on board in
me, and consequently came down in the steamer
ieorgia this morning
Capt. Cannon, besides $500 in funds, lost a guam
ny OF clothing and other articles. Capt. Parks
ad recently fitted up the pursers Office in elegant
.yle, put everything was lost except the list of
assengers. His loss is about $500. The crew.
rm1nneipaly eolored men, lost all their clothing.
Ane conuuct and discipline of the crew are
ooken OF in the highest terms.
soon after the passenpers ware foLan On ho.rd