The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-01
1 II + DISPATCH,
TUESDAY aoRHINo... FEBRUARY !, lao,
Disaster in Chesapeake
Bav.
BURNING OF THE tTEAMER
NORTH CAROLINA.
TWO PERSONS BURNED ALIVE,
SCENES ON B0ARD-NARR0W ESCAPES
-ANOrN7 OF LOSSES de-. DE-, dc.

The steamer North Carolina, Captain Cannon
vas destroyed by fire in Chesapeake Bay, on Sat-
urday morning last while on her way from
Baltimore TO Norfolk, Ia, with % passengers
and cargo of assorted merchandise. The boat
took fire about l 2 O'Clock on Saturday morning
Ia tho clothes closet, from candle, which, II il
believed was Carried in there by a boy on board
All Efforts 20 the vessel were unavaliug, and
! the passengers, with the exception Of Rev. DR.
Curtis, ar Episcopal minister OF Chester, s. C, and
/ Frank Walters, one Of the coiored stewards, who
were burnt ia their berths. were taken off in
| boats. The survivors reached the Smiths Point
Light Boat in safety, after wandering about In the
| fog for several hours and we're subsequently taken
/ OF b. the steamer Locust Point, and brought tc
| VII nIoughhy Point Sunday morning, where they
were taken of by the steamer Georgia. aud
! brought up to Norfolk and Portsmouth. On,
correspondent ia the former cily, sends rs tbe
! following:
STATEMENT CT Mr. B1TDsN OF s4LIsBUarS c.
We left Baltimore about6 O'Clock. Friday even.
iug-it had been raiGing all daY, but abont 81 Z
o'clock IL cleared up, the steamer passed slowi
down the river. the fog becoming thicker and
thicker as IL grew later, and about Q N the en-
sine whistle was blown,and from time TO time WA,
repeated to warn vessels Of the steamers annroacb
Occasionally the boat was topped the foe late IN
the night being 30 dense that nothing coula bq
saen. At the usual hour all the passengers rctrad
About two or half past two Saturday morning
was awakened by the hurryipC of the servan.o
back and forth, and asked one of them what ,ros
the matter, but got no answer. ;hen dressed
went on the main deck, and then learned that n
was caused by fire, then went below and got m V
CARPET Tag and went Immediately IN .ha r,,,a
deck. when saw the fire which had snrsad on
over the upper part of the boat | was driven
below by the flames aud when | got On the main
deck again, found men engaged in getting tho
qnarlpr boat ready; Mt this time the excitemen.
was very great; men Eorerunuine hither a nd
thither the ladies were rushing about in their
ni3hi clothes. h.refooted and bareheaded. some
were ringing tn IT hands and some We're screaming
others were spparea'ly overcome by fright. ana
hardly knew who were their na ural protectorf:in
/ the M aGtime the boat nearest me was launched
/ and in less than a Minute nineteen persons wers
{ In il. We then. for fear of being syamred cut
! loose and pushed Of, and as we did go, one man
! jumped from the steamer into the water and was
! picked up by us. Ia this boat were three ladies,
! four Lesro men 10 pull the oars, two negro yo.
| men. Mr.. J. Z. Walker, the second mate took
| the helm aud the command Of the boat: the boat
was pulled oit little way and then hung around
| the steamer about an houC. We then got in com.
IaDy with the other three boats which had been
ashed together to prevent their separating in the
| fog; and | noticed raft tied behnd on which
were fve or SIX persons. We took two or three
persons from the ratf and the rest got in tLa
other beat aud the raft was cut adrin The Can
tar now took the lead; he had IA lights and a com.
pes IN his boat. aud aftsr pulling about for an
no We heard bell; never in my life did hear
su music before; it WAS the most cheering snrnd
thatever salEted my ears-th5 proved to Re the
smith Folnt Light boat bell; and after pulling in
the direction OF tie sound for aD hour aud a half
We came suddenly upon the light boat Here
would like TO state that the fog was so thick that
when the steamer wGs blazing up nearly an hum
drsd feet, We could not sec it huadred wards
cd We were taken on board by the Can
tain, aud the after part of the vessel
given up to the "a iies, who were aoou pro-
vIed with fire aud b!ankets-the blankets had
been thrown in the boats from tie burning steam.
er-aud made comfortable. About 10 o'clock
(caturdGY morning) We heard fog whistle apnss
rentlv about one hU1dred yards of; but heirg
unable 10 see anything, we dispatched boat 70
hsil the steamer. This proved to be the Locust
Pc n Cf he Parker Vein line, in command Of Cant
French, who said he was bound 10 New York
We asked him if he could not take Us to Norfolk
He repli that ii the fig cleared up sothgt he
could yet al0pg, he uId, aud in the mean time
be wonid lay BY US. lie acCordiDgiy came along
sde and invited ns on beard The gentlemen nc
cepted, but the ladies' were forced 10 decline on
a count OF ttelr toilets. While ying here lsrge
pieces OF the tuTpt steamer 1oated by several
pieces of Which were picked up. About dark, the
fog having c'eaTed away, we got the lqdie, on
board the Locust Point, and pr .ceeded 10 within
eight miles Of Norfolk, which point we reached
about4 A. NJ, t)sday, (Suuday About S A. NJ
the Georgia came along, and brought US ia to this
city. When we left the light boat we gave tbrce
cheers FOX its captain, and when We ieftthe Iocust
Point tnTe6 flHips