Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-02-05
Important from Charleston.

Escape Of the Rebel Steamer s.Tr6pic"
She Takes Fire and is burned in
Sight IF Or Fleet Her Crep Saved
Papers Tahen from, PASSENGERS Con.
tracts, Etc.
From a private letter the PHILADELPHIA
Inquirer takes the following items of
news from Charleston Harbor.z Tho
TrOpio was forrneIy called the Huntrcss
On Sunday, January 18th, the watch
officer of the United States steamer
Quaker City reported large fir, burn
ing sOoward. The Captain immediately
hurried upon deck, and decided it was
large vessel on fire. Without delay
he weighed anchor and stea1. ed out
for it was blowing very fresh. 1t was
not until . o'clock that they we're near
enough to discover it was large side
wheel steamer, completely enveloped in
fumes, sight magnificent to behold.
Upon coming nearer it was discovered
| the boat-fal)s at each quarter were hang.
ing down TO the water, and the boats
gone, Upon this evidence Of At least
some having managed to leave tAs yes
sci, ii WAS decided to remaia steaming
| around in hopes Of saving human life.
| and just rs dawn was making, noise
was heard astern, which proved TO be
| one Of the tosts containing sixtoou per-
sous, who wou!d soon have found waite
ry grave, as thu boat was then nearely
full of water, ana the occupants nearly
frozen.
The men had only the clothes in
which they stool, but there were two
passengers who managed TO save cou-
pie of snail yalisss On their reaching
the deck, imagine the surprise of Uncle
Sans servants to find these sufferers
belonged to the Rebel steamer Tropic,
formcry the Elun.ress, of the New York
and Charleston line. which they stole at
tho commencement Of the Rebellion.
She had succeeded in running past some
Of our blockaders on that dark and driz-
ely night, with a cargo Of three hundred
and twsnty-three barrels of turpentlne
with six barrel of rosn: She would
have beer rich prize, but at all events
the Rebels have been deprived of the
proceeds for stores and .amunition.
They reported another boat with four
teen persons Steaming around until
day break, the second boat was describe
and the sufferers rescued ~ 49,
The mass of the crew woras Eirs Han
and IRISH, - One Of the two passengers
was Euglish,nnu named j NJ Vernon,
of London. just before reaching the
ship he was seen to throw oyerboard a
quantity of yellow covered Documents
A boat WAS imnia lately loyersi, which
succeeded in securing them. They
proved to be contraets entered into by
the Secretary of War. Secretary of the
Navy and postmaster General, with the
said Vernon, for furnishing the so.called
| Confederate Government with stores,
accoutcements, &c. Said Vernon was
very indignant, threatening to report
this matter to Lord Lyons, admitting, at
the same time, that lie was an ageus OF
the Confederate Government.
The other passenger was named Steers
is Pennsylvania By birth. but hs,
resided South 70, many years. EIa said
that he had two sons in McClellan's ar
my. lie WAS a large owner of stock in
the Tropic, btngs the owner Of sixteen
shares, besides cotton plantation in
Georgia and farm near Richmond
In addition to this he owned portion Of
the cotton on the steamer The chief mate
of the vessel, a man named Glass, they
say, undoubtedly, was sufocated by the
the dense smoke, az he came on board
much intoxicated.
Commander Fraley. Of the Quaker
City, seems to be partiularly expert in
capturing Rebel documents; he was the
fortunate officer who captared so rec emit
ly Major Sanders and his budget.