Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-10-10
Burning the Steamer COnnaught!
RELIEF OF THE PASSENGERS AND CREW.


The fine steamer Connaught, of the Galway
line was destroyed by fire on Sunday morn,
ing last, when within one hundred and forty
miles of Boston. The commander of the steam
err Capt Leitch, arrived in Boston Tuesday
morning, and publishes, in the Journal, the
following account of the catastrophe:
STATEMENT OF CAPT. LEITcH.
The Connaught left Galway on the 25th of
September, and St. Johns, for Boston, on tho
morning Of the Sd inst. She had four hundred
and sixty seven passengers. On Saturday last,
at O'Clock P. NJ, the steamer then $50 miles
from Boston,spfang a-eak in the engine room.
he water was gaining fast, when discovered
and all hands were Immediately called to free
the vessel. The engine pumps were set to
work, and the force pumps from on deck were
taken below and manned The crew and pas
sengers, with buckets, were busiIy employed,
i'll the vain attempt to keep the water from
rising. These efforts continued undated I'M
til O'Clock Sunday morning, the water gain
ing steadily all the time. AT about quarter
past ., new danger was d covered which
added horror 10 the situation of the already
imperiled passengers and crew. Smoke was
discovered issuing from the engine room, and
shortly after, fire broke out above the after
boiler. The passengers quilted the saloons
and Storage, leaving their baggage and every.
thing, except the clothes they had on The
crew, tiremen, and officers OF the vessel left
the hold, and all came on deck. Every precau.
ton was taken TO exclude the air from the in
terror Of the vessel. The entrances to the sa-
looms, engine room and steerage, were closed
and covered with wet blankets. Two hours
after the fire was discovered the water had
risen so high as TO extinguish the fires in the
boilers, and the ship, having lost headway, was
tossed about i'll heavy sea. AT this time, all
hope OF saving the steamer was given up, and
number OF hands were set to work to get out
the boats, eight in number. A rough sea was
running, and in attempting to lower the first
boat, 1t was swarped, and sunk by heavy
wave. The fire still increasing, all hands d.
rected their efforts toward getting the boats
over the sides as quietly as possible Atl2
o'clock, Sunday, made out Il barque TO the
wiudward, She was close hauled. and kent on
her course. Shortly AFTER a brigantine was
discovered, which bore down upon the steam
er. The brig proved to be the Minnie Schitfie
Capt. Wilson, from Malaga, bound for Boston.
Capt. Wilson protered his assistance which
was gladly accepted. In the meantime, every
preparation had been made to dsembark the
passengers from the steamer. The seven re.
naming boats were all safely launched, and
the passengers lowered on board, 10 be in read
mess when the brig hove to. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that the boats made the
passage between the steamer and the brig. and
not until rope was got out, was the thing
successfully accomplished. The passengers
and crew were all safely on board the Minnie
Schiller at o clock, no accident having occur.
red in the transportation About o'clock.
Monday morning, the steamer was last seen
enyeloped in flames, fore and aft, and the sup.
OOstlOQ that she has froDa down
CBY TELEGRAPH.l
STATEMENT OF MIR. H. wHITWELL
Mr.. IL. Whitwell of New York, a passenger
in the Connaught, furnishes the following state
ment as to the loss of that fine steamer Pass
ing the circumstances Of the voyage from Gal
way, which port we left at five P. NJ. of the
Doth ut., until about s p NJ. of SATURDAY. tho
9th inst, he says-"While heading westward
wardly, wind blowing a northerIy gale tho
ship began to roll to larboard with a singular
motion, going far down and keeping that wav
a long time which caused some alarm, Mean
time the captain was heard giving orders about
steering, manning the pump, &C. Firemen
under the abaft paddle box were observed
whispering, and there were other manifesto.
tons that something was not right. Consider
able water was observed through the gratngs.
The engine soon after stopped for awhile. AZ
ter strenuous exertions by Capt. Leitch and
crew, the ship righted and the passengers be
came more composed. The sea was rough
the wind blowing what sailors call an ordinary
full gale Most of the passengers turned in,
but passed restless night. On Sunday, at {
A. NJ the ship began to roll again with that
shaggy motion similar to the evening previous
The captain and crew could neither tack nor
wear the ship. Soon after, the engine stopped.
and steam could not be raised in the boilers.
The ship rolled frightfully to the larboard, and
the pumps were Manned and gangs Of men
commenced bailing with buckets. AT 10 clock
it was reported that the water was not gaining,
but on the contrary the pumps and boilers
were gaining on the Leak and if the wind
would shift, she would reach Boston that night
but these hopes were soon changed to extreme
terror, when the word was passed around in
low tones, "I'he ship is on fire !" accompanied
by the smell Of burning wood The fire APP
peared between the decks, aud gangs were i'm.
medlateiy formed with pumps and buckets to
exslnguish the flames, taking the water from
the sea, and passing it in buckets as the fire
gained the boilers began TO slacken work all
eyes staring around the horizon In homes to
see some means OF safety. Several false re.
ports of sail in sight were made. but AT last
we discovered a sail to the northward ana
soon after anothersto the westward, both being
low down, but it became plain at one O'clock
that both were nearing us, the vessel steering
north having three masts, and the one west
only two. We soon found out that the latter
was passing, while the other still neared us
without showing any sign that she noticed us
which kept US IN extreme anxiety and dOu t
until she bore directly ior us, evidently show
ing that she observed the steamers flags O
distress. which had been hoistcd since mid
day. We then commenced TO steer away, and
launch boats, which was very difficult Job