, 1860-02-04

Moro than 1900 Peraons Killed and
Wounded,

Correspondence ctstiesten Is. c. Nc~zI
MA1AaA. Dec. .. 1879.
a dreadful catastrophe has occurred here.
suppose shall never again witness such sight.
vas on my way to my hotel at nine o'clock,
and While stopplng moment to observe the
numerous steamers in port, detouation, sur
passing either that of thtndet OF cenilcn, star-
tied inc, md cloud Of smoke arose from among
the steamers that were riding at anchor, await
ing the en.harkation OF the sd corps d'armte- As
soon "s the fn'oks had Dispersed. raging fire
mas seen streaming from the deck Of the mig
nsffceEt steamer Genoy1, belonging to Fictcr
Emmanuel, aud chartered to the Spanish govern
p:nt ioE tue :.Tnr. The air was filed with cries
and shouts @; ttose on koHrd.
: Tho steamer had lust arrived and had not en-
t'fely moored, her main anchor Only being out.
lu the space Of i minute, hundreds Of row boats
were elor sEsade 10 receive the passengers, and
take in those who had jumped overheard.
Shortly they arrived on shore, bnt many awful
y injured serious that In few days after
they died in the hospital. Some landed without
shirts, others without pants, having b :en forced
to tear them off on account Of the ire many Of
the poor creatures bad ID hair lett on their
heads. In the space OF five or ten minutes not
4 single person remained on board the burning
vessel, aud IN order was given to the thousands
ol spectators present. as well Us to the iuhahit-
auts oi The adjacent houses, to escape, for there
was imminent danger.
The detonation vas caused bv tic explosion
OF grenadoea placed in the stern. where there
were yet remaining many more, and att OF them
were hundreds Of loaded bombs and over twelve
tons Of gunpowder. Two Spanish steamers
were ordered to attach 1inas and tow her out if
Possible, or at ieast free her; from amongst the
others, over thirty in number, besides many
more sailing vessels. After much trouble the
two steamers commenced towing her, but could
only get her out 10 the distance o: about fifty
yards, or the length Of the main anchors chni1.
During a!l this time dreadful explosions OF more
Srenadoes were takipg place. The two steam-
crs tltat were pEpptlling found ali their efforts
useless to drag the anchor, and were obliged to
abandon her iu the very middle of the harbor.
Thu lire was raging intensely, and fast max
1n:; its way aft to the bombs and twelve tons Of
gunpowder. After some ,oss Of time, a Spanish
man of-'var was placed at a short distance from
the wreck, and commenced haavy discharge
OF cannon tall to sink her. hut nearly IN hour
passed befote the steamer appeared to feel in
the least any effect; and as the danger was ill.,
creasing from minute to minute, four caunons
were posted On one end Of the Mole, and another
man-ot.war assisted, when, finally, the wreck
gradually settled down. The nansnast had
already been consumed, so that the fire had but
short distance to reach the after magazine
In bali an hour more the great danger had
nearly passed, for amid the tremendous explo-
slons OF .reDadoss that had not csaked from the
commencement, another sound WAS hcard-tlat
occasloned by the struggle between the two
elements; brt the Ere WIS soou after subtued,
and the waters covered the decks. all was
oversize had gone down, showing only the
cnd Of Acr bowspsit and fnrcmast. Besides
much material Of war, there we're 29v mules be-
longing to the government. There is a complete
loss Of everything, not eveu auy Of the baggage
being sayed. Searches have been made With u
diving machine, sud 1ot q ves,ige Of anything
WAS found.
have seen numbers of the wounded-there
are over o,0!H1 in the hospitals Of Mataua