The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-02-28
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION OF A WAR
STEAMER afr,,

The Charleston News publishes the following
extract from letter dated Malaga, Dec. 25th:
dreadful catastrophe has occurred here.
suppose L shall never again witness such sight.
[ was on the way to my hotel at o'clock, and
while stopping moment to observe the numerous
steamers in port, deonation, surprising that Of
either thunder or cannon, startled me, and cloud
of smoke arose from among the steamers that were
riding at anchor, awaiting the embarkation of the
3D. corps d'armee. As soon as the smoke had dis
persed raging fire was seen streaming from the
deck of the magnificent steamer Geneva, belong
ing to Victor Emanuel, and chartered to the Span
ish Government for the service of the war The
air was filled with shouts and cries from those on
board. ..t -.
The steamer had just arrived, and had not en-
trey moored, her main anchor only being out In
the space of minute hundreds of row-boats were
alongside to receive her passengers and take in
those who had jumped overheard. Shortly they
arrived shore, but many awfully injured--so
seriously thai few days after they died in the
hospital Some landed without shirts, others with
out pants, having been obliged to tear them off
account of the fire; many Of the poor creatures
had no hair left on their heads In the space of
FIVE ten minutes not single person remained
on board the burning vessel, and an order Civ
to the thousands of spectators present, well
as to the inhabitants of the adjacent houses, to
escape, for there imminent danger
The catastrophe was caused by the explosion of
grenaGoes placed in the stern, where there there
were yet remaining many more, and aft of them
were hundreds Of loaded bombs and twelve
tons of powder. Two Spanish steamers were or
dered to attach lines and tow her ont if possible,
at least free her from amongst the others, over
thirty in number besides many more sail vessels
Alter much trouble the two steamers commenced
towing her. but could only get her out to the dis
tance of about fifty yards the length of the main
anchors chain. During all the time dreadful ex-
plosions Of other grenadoes taking place. The
two steamers that propellng found all their
efforts useless to drag the anchor and were obliged
to abandon her in the very middle of the harbor.
The fire was raging intensely and fast making
it's way aft to the bombs and gunpowdcr. After
some of time a Spanish man-of-war was placed at
short distance from the wreck aud commenced a
heavy discharge of cannon balls to sink her, but
nearly an hour passed before the steamer appeared
to fee in the least any effect, and as the danger
increasing from minute to minute, four can
mons were posted on end of the Mole, and
another man -of-war assisted, when finally the wreck
gradually settled down. The nlanmast had al
ready been consumed, so that the fire bad but
short distance to reach the after magazine
In halfan hour moro the great danger had near
ly passed. for amid the tremendous explosion of
grenadoes that had not ceased from the commence
ment another sound was heard-that occasoned
by the struggle between the two elements; but the
fire was soon after subdued and the waters covered
the decks. All over; she had gone down,
showing only the end of her bow-sprit and fore
mast Besides much material of war lost, there were
200 mules belonging to the government. There
is complete loss of everything, not even any of
the baggage was saved. Searches have been
made by diving machine, and not vestige of
any thing was found.
[ have seen numbers of the wounded; there are
over 1000 in the hospitals of Malaga