Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-06

Terrific BxplOsIOn of a BaFdInian WaI
Steamer---MOTe than 1000 Persons Killed
or Wounded. r
dreadful catastrophe occurred at Malaga
Dec. 25th. The magnificent steamer Geneva,
belonging to Victor Emmanuel, and char
tered to the Spanish government for the war,
blew up in the harbOr.a and as soon as the smoke
of the explosion dispersed a raging fire was
seen. A correspondent of the Charleston
News gives the following particulars;
Tho steamer had just arrived and had not
entirely moored, her main anchor only being
out. In the space Of a minute hundreds Of
row boats were along side to receive the pas
| sengefs, and take in those who had jumped
overheard. Shortly they arrived on shore, but
many awfully iDjured-sO seriously that few
days after they died in the hospital Some
landed without shirts, others without pants,
having been obliged to tear them off on account
Of the fire; many Of the poor creatures had no
hair left on their heads. In the space of five
| or ten minutes not single person remained on
board the burning vessel, and an order was Civ
en- to the thousands OF spectators present, as
we'll as to the inhabitants of the adjacent hou
ses, to escape, for there was imminent danyer.
The detOnation was caused by the explo-
SiOn of grenadoes placed in the stern, where
there were yet remaining many more, and aft
of them were hundreds of loaded bombs and
over twelve tons of gunpowder. Two Spanish
steamers were ordered TO attach lines aud tow
her out if possible, or at least free her from
amongst ths others, over thirty in number, be-
sides many more sailing vessels. After much
trouble the two steamers commenced towing
her, but could only get her out to the distance
of about fifty yards or the length of the main
anchors chain. During all the time dreadful
explosions of other grenadoes were taking place
The two steamers that were propelling found
all their efforts useless to drag the anchor and
were obliged to abandon her in ths verv middle
of the harbor
The fire was raging intensely, and fast max.
ing its way aft to the bombs aRd twelve tons
of gunpOwder. After some loss of time a
Spanish man-Of-war was placed at a short dis
tance from the wreck, and commenced a heavy
discharge OF cannon ball to sink her, but near
ly an hour elapsed before the steamer appeared
to feel In the least any effect, and as the dan
ger was increasing from minute to minute, four
cannons were placed on one end Of the Mole,
and another man of war assisted, when finally
the wreck gradually settled down The main
mast had already been consumed, so that the
fire had but short distance to reach the after
magazine.
In half an hour more the great danger had
nearly passed, for amid the tremendous explo-
sions OF grenadoel, that had not ceased from the
commencement, another sound was heard-that
OccasiOned by the struggle between the ele-
ments; but the fire was soon after subdued,
and the waters covered the decks. All was
over, she had gone down, showing only the
end of her bOwsprit and foremast Resides
much material of war. there were 200 mules
belonging to the government. There is a com.
plete loss Of everything, not even any of the
baggage was saved. Searches have been made
with diving machine, and not vsstige of
anything was found.
Ihave seen numbers of the wOundsd-there
are over 1000 in the hospitals of Malaga