The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-01
BURNINa or rHE NORTH cARoLIgA


This ne steameg belonging 10 the Bay Line running
between Baltimore and Norfolk, entirely destroyed
by FIRE about one tNo o'clock Saturday morning
below Smith Island, Naie her passage from this port
70 Norfolk
The hro was first discovered in the clothes press ON
the upper saloon, whom about Eve miles below smith $
Point lghtboat eight miles from shore at
fifteen minutes past two o'clock Saturday morning,
the 10Th instant There twenty six passengers ON
board, all OF whom saved, except Rev. Mr.. CARTS
Of Chester c.. and il impossible TO account for his
loss The passengers all united IN their efforts 10
the steamer and the hose worked well until il burnt
Nothing saved Of the mails, baggage, freight
Mr.. Capron, Of Wilmington, N O., had his wife and
child with him he threw the child over and then jump
ed ia himself followed by his wife, all of whom
picked up by of the boats and rescued The cap
tain, officers, aud all hands displayed great GOODNESS d
ring the exciting scene and the boats were launched in
safety, and all finally saved except Mr. Curtis and
of the walters The officers and remained by the
boat until il impossible TO her, and when fur
ther efforts would only have increased their danger
The officers and consisted of forty persons and they
with the passengers made sixty six in all.
Mr. Parks says when the fire FIRST discovered il
had made but little progress but very the whole
steamer appeared to be in flames. asssss5 !, ~
The captain watch at the time, and in
formed of the fire. when he Immediately gave the signal
to stop the engines The fire engines put to work.
and although they worked WE'LL aud large quantities of
water thrown the element it appeared to have
effect in subduing, but rather tended to increase the
flames The clothes press forward OF the machinery
and the berth occupied by Mr. Cnrts aft and it Is
supposed he was in a sound sleep ana rather hard OF
hearing consequently did not know anything Of the dis
aster He about 75 years of age, and minister Of
the Presbyterian denomination.
The passengers all safely placed in the life boats
fifteen minutes after tho alarm iirst given and were
tkcn TO the lighthouse, where they were cared for IL
very Oggy ut the time, and the flames of the bum
ing boat could not be at the distance of 100 yards
They only found the lghtb by the constant ringing
Of her bell.
,e4 a Al n, 80
in command, did everything in his power to render
the sufferers comfortable until about o'clock, when the
steamer Locust Point, of the Cromwell steamers
came along and hailed. She took the passengers
and crew ON board after waiting until o'clock in the
evening, when the fog cleared Off She then proceeded
TO Hampton Roads, where she overtaken by the Geo
ga who took all back TO Norfolk The passengers saved
nothing but their night clothes which they had ON.
No baggage freight, any thing of value whatever
saved The United States mail for Norfolk was also
destroyed.
1t was said that Adams & Co s Express lose by this
catastrophe somewhere in the neighbohood of 81 600
But understand by fortunate accident they pre-
vented from losing 5000 900 government funds that did
not get board in time and consequently went down in
the steamer Georgia, .
Captain Cannon, the commander of the North Caro-
lima had $500 of his funds in his state room, which
he had not time to SO precpitae, in fact the
retreat that time to spare to anything what
ever and Mr. Parks the puser of the boat lost all the
pasBire money. a
mouth, destitute, having lost all, and movement
making to afford them assistance to reach their homes
The following is the list of passengers 20 in number
DR. j. Troup and two sisters Darien Ga r. IL
Northrop, Pioneer Mills N c.; Thos w. Field Gouces-
ter G. H.. Va; Il. Clayton and lady, Beaufort N CT j.
Lerch, Wilmington, N. CT, R. A, Craigs, Baltimore;
Mary o Bren, Philadelphia; DIR. j. G. Riyes, Edgecomb
N c.; T. III. Lively Williamsburg, Va; S. j Hart
naval contractor) Portsmouth, Va, }, A Boyden Sails
bury, N c.. X Matthews, Boston, Mass John A. Green
Baltimore; MIR. DENLY and sister, Norfolk Va; Peter
Adams, Greensborough, N. c.. Matthew Aylwin Ports
mouth, Va; ID. A. Wicker Raleigh, N. c.; III. Capron
wife and infant, Wilmington N. g.; Miss Mary Thomp
son, Portsmouth, Va William B. Parks, Baltimore
Capt Henry Fitzgerald, Norfolk, Va and Rev. DIR.
Curtis Chester, s. Q.
The passengers speak in the highest terms of the noble
conduct of Captain Cannon, Purser Parks and the officers
aud crew. for their GOODNESS in the hour of peril them
selves leaving the ill ed vessel after all the passengers
had been rescued except the two who unfortunately lost
their lives, and they passed series of resolutions
pressive Of their gratitude to their gallant preservors