Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-02-10
na, were Detained until, ,the:next day. Tldsar
lount arrived safely Sunday morning in the GeofE

mount arrived safely Sunday morning 1nthe aeor
gle; -
The Rev. DR.. Curtis, of Chester, South Carolina,
an Episcopal minister was returning home hurri.
edy, to attend the funeral Of member. of his
family. He hid state room, mo. H. very near
where the fire broke out, and not beipg aroused
by the noisc,, perishcdin in the Hierciless. .famea-
The passengers say that. ho was IN elderly gen.
tcmau of polished manners, and suffered from
partial deafness, which aiHiction may have caused
him to sleep on in the midst Of the fearful scene
which was being enacted around him. passen-
ger states that when he last saw MIN he was read
ing his Bible.
The negro steward who perishel was named
Isaac Waters. He hid retired for the night, and
being tired and generally n sound sleeper, was
overtakeh by the flames and thus doubtless smoth-
cred and burned.
After the fire broke out in the upper saloon it
spread so rapidly that no time was given. to awake
those sleeping in that saloon aft Of the machinery.
Mr.. Henry Crapon his wife and infant, Of Will
mipgton, North Carolina, were sleeping in this
part of the saloon. The fire had made fearful
progress and nearly every soul had left the aft
Of the boat before Mrs Cnpoh awoke. She in.
stantly y.aroused her husband. Hejumped up, but
upon attempting to open the door Of his state room,
was driven back by the dense smoke and fame.
With great self possession, Mr.. G. jumped out Of
the window, and helped his bnbe .(ef twelve
months) and wife out. The deck seemed deserted !;
he thought all had fed and left him, his wife, and
little one, to perish. He-head persons IN the
fore part Of the boat, but the flames presented an
mpcnetrable barrier. Possessed for the time
with extraordinary strength, he seized metallic
life-boat which was left on the hurricane deck,
and started to launch her, but found that she was
g., Ill H. 1ock l. 81
he had no knife to cut the ropes so he was obliged
to leave his wife and child and descend to unfas-
ten them. The moments seemed like centuries.
He Mt length succeeding in loosenipg the ropes
and ascending, showed the boat into the water.
As soon as she fell she filled and drifted under the
guards. Not despairing of reaching the boat, he
threw his child into the water to keep from injur
ing it in the descent, and bidding his wife to re-
main until he returned, he plunged after the child
to put it in the boat. He had no sooner jumped
in than his wife followed his example, in her fright
not hearing his request. He succeeded in reach
ing the boat with his child, and placing it safely
on board He was about starting to return to his
wife, when he saw female struggling in the wa
ter to keep herself from drowning AS she was
near the boat, feeling of humanity prompted him
to rescue her beforereturning for his wife, whom
he now felt safe. Judge of his surprise when
seizng hold of the female he recognized her to be-
his wife, who had followed him and her child into
the water
Another lady, who had rushed to the spot after
the boat was launched, seeing Mrs. Crapon jump
overheard, followed, and would have drowned but
for the heroism of citizen of Norfolk, Capt Hen
ry Fitzgerald, who coming up to the place and
seeing femalei in the water, descended to her
rescue. AS Capt. Fitzgerald, was letting himself
down, the rope being burnt, gave way, and he
was plunged into the deep. Although he could
not swim, as the boat was near, he succeeded in
rescuing the lady. The five being safely in the
boat emptied 1t Of the water, and went TO the as
sistance of the others. Capt. Fitzgerald, in his
effort to release others, left the steamer almost
naked.
Mr.. VIM. Denby, jr., Of Norfolk, who was IN the
aft the upper saloon, was aroused by the stop
ping of the steamer, and hearing cry for buck
cts, Jumped up, and hastily putting on some. Of
his clothes, rushed out and SOW the saloon In
flames he aroused his sister, whe was in the next
state-room, and they barely had time to escape
out of the saloon, she having to leave oil her
clothes except those in which she slept. Forcing
negro by threats to aid him, he succeeded in
launching the first boat which was on the hurri-
cane deck. AS soon as the boat passed the guards,
eighteen persons jumped in. Miss Denby was the
last who got in the boat having courageousfy
waited until her brother was ready to receive her.
Much praise is due to Mr.. Denby, for getting this
boat launched 80 soon. This boat took several OF,
whom they found on the raft.
The other boats were launched by the crew, and
both filled with those on board. Fortunately there
vas calm prevailing, otherwise the boats would
have been but little service 1t is remarkable
that in the trying scene the passengers displayed
great coolness, and even the ladies rivalled the
men in courage.
The seven ladies' on board were rescued without
any injury, excepting one whose arm was hurt in
getting into one Of the boats from the steamer {;
but nearly all had to leave in their night clothes
The boats after leaving the steamer and taking
off those who had left in the raft, kept together,
under the direction of Captain Cannon, who steer
nearest leht-boa AT one time it was thought
that the boat in which Mr.. DENLY was in would be
lost in the fog rs ithad separated from the others.
The steamer was deserted between 3 and o'clock
Saturday morning. The last Of the l-fatcd steam
er was bright light like cloud above the fog,
and occasional explosions. When she disappear
ed from view, she was one sheet Of fame, from
fore to aft.
After tedious row. in the most uncomfortable
condition. the survivors reached the Smiths
Point Light Boat, Captain Hayden, where they
were received with unbounded kindness, and every.
thing done for their comfort.
1t was not until the survivors collected together
on the light boat that they discovered that two of
their number were missing.
At A. p M, Saturday, portions Of the wreck
aoated past the light boat. We have heard many
interesting scenes connected with the loss of the
ill-fated North Carolina but have not now time
to give the details. 80
Tie passengers lost all their baggage and some
their all, (several had freight On board and we
are pleased to hear that public meetings will be
held in Norfolk and Portsmouth Immediately for
their relief
This is the first serious accident that has ever
occurred on this long established and popular
line, and we sincerely trust that We may never be
called on to chronicle another. We have heard
that the steamer was insured for S50,000. The
loss will beheavy to the Company. =
The officers and crew numbered about forty;
passengers twenty nine; making in all about sew
enty souls on board.
Temperance Leeture.-The Rock Hill. Chronicle
refers to "talk" before the Sons of Temperance,
and large concourse Of ladies and gentlemen,
by Rev. s. L. Watson, on Saturday Of the week