New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-24
Loss OF TME SHIP WILLIAM
NELSON.
Interesting Details by an Eye-Witness.

A correspondent Of The Erening Post who
was passenger on board the Lafayette. supplies the
following account of the of the passengers Of the
burned ship William Nelson
On Tuesday. the 9th. the sky was without cloud.
the smooth aud the air superb. Tie deck OF Inc
steamer WIS luminous with happy faces. But Few
moments after We had taken our seats at tie dinner
table at 4, o'clock p. H.. the ship suddenly came to
stop No notice taken OF this In an instant more
We heard hurying steps on the deck. and cry OF A
wreck - "A wreck" brought US oil 70 our feet. We
rushed no the gangways and little 20 the south
west Of thc bow OF the lafayette two fal boats filled
with half naked men and women pulling toward Us Tor
tbey neareo the SIDE OF our snip tneir upturned
faces beaned the gates of Heaven were opened 70
them The steps Of the Lafayette we're lowered and W
helpless beings were rescued from watefy grave.
With a tender hand Capt. DE BOcande received them
one by ons and caused chairs and mattresses TO be
brought for those who had not strength enough ostahu
The sufferers were Silent Tears alone spoke their
gratitude. ,.,,.
in the innate goodness Of tie human heart There was
scarceiy a dry among the hundreds that crowded
the deck of the Lafayette Tears stooa on many ene EN-,
their persons rich silks and siufs 70 ciohe unfortunate
women Gentlemen DOTTED their broadcoth for the
comfort OF the men and Teepinx saoss
The kind purser conducted those that could Walk
into the cabin. and placed thu best oil The sp ocaru
before them ard the helpless were led nko paD,es.
We saw sailors forcing small pieces Of bread dipped IN
wine between the parched lips OF the shipwreck.d sea
men, In as short nc possible they were al maze
comfortable and The history Of Their Misfortune ascei
tained They were passengers in tie William nelson.
from Antwerp which had been burned AZ Ia CLOCK,
the 10Th inst in lat 10 81 long. 80 q.
Two boats were vet out: tie long boat, containing 81
persons and sma boat containing IA and a raft on
which were about 100 others.
Capt de Booande Immediately put his ship about md
went IN the direction OF The wrceA Of tie W lillian Ao
son, with the hope of saving lives At ha,-past
G,e the sailors at masthead cried, Another boatI
m about an hour we rede Russian bark, bound 70
the south OF France which picked up the small boat
containing a. before reached her. These consisted
Of a f0Iny Of six the father and mother and four
children the youngest only fow weeks Of, ana eIght
seanen. They were nearly exhausted. and 10 render
them more coaDfor able and 70 forward them TO their
homes with more speed than IN the power OF the
captain Of the bark Captain dc Bocnnde cansed then
to be transferred TO the Lafayette making IN all ID that
the sea Ind rendered up 10 his care.
As the purser Of the Lafayette handed these little
children 10 the ladies deck he kissed each one Of
them with tenderness that brought tears to many al
The longboa and the raft we're stil ont. With
prOmptDess aud humanity that won the hearts OF all on
board Cart de BOcaLde ciuised la the vicinity OF the
wreck. firing cannon ana rockets till nearly morning.
but could neither near sytbing Of the boat aud
raft lie then put his ship on her course. II the La
fyette hnd not been delayed the second day out she
yond have been IS miles beyond the Of the wreck
OF the Nelson at the time she picked up her psssen
gers This and the souhery course of the Lafayette is
something for Gll 10 think o.
William Nelson have obtained as follows;
The William Nelson was nrst-class packet snip o.
New. York. commanded by Capt. Levi smith, She left
ntverp on fhe Cd OF June aud fusng on tue I'm Tor
New. York with 80 souls on board On the voyage
there had bees two birhs sixteen cases ol over anu
six deaths making frequent iumigationS OF 'ne snip
TIe morning of the Goth R0thsen descended INTO the
shin where the SICK were lying and iou 10 the ar 50 IN
feciod 30 maize iumgation Immediately
en.rrc the safety of The passengers. Captain smlth
rave MT Rotbstcin charge Of cleansing VIC sn,li
which is done by dipping heated irons INTO iaI anu
swinging them through the air. Duilhg tIls p9vIsss
one Of the men employed IN iamigatinS iei Ieuoo
IRON ian into inc pail OF tar which instantly bazed up
AZ high as the ceiling Rothstein who STOOD Dehhu tno
men directing them caught mp mattfass ond hhs ~
and himself the pail Of blazing tar. WIZ me ldea o
smothering tie ame when 10 exploded ahd fiIeW nun
and the ratrass backward ten feet. The men now De-
came alarmed threw upon 1t straw beds ana otter com
brstble substances which burned like torches In zen
minutes the flames burst up the hatchway ana vert
running up the mainmast ard rigging Ike merry ser
penis. q, -, M, -. -.
ing ont in the middle Of the ship, divided II into two
separatng friends and families and driving them
n Tho extreme ends OF the Burning vessel some be
came frantic ard eaped into the sea. Others lew up
and down the deck wrapped III the flames OF their
clothes, rending the air with tneir shileSs. strong
fopreseryer OF a spar and CHASTITY men and women,
with infants dashed 10 them swung themselves outside
the ship by ropes TO which they cluDg untii the hie
burned them in two and let thom down into watery
grave. -, ., A. 1.,.
when the foremost fell, killing many and hurting The
cost INTO the sea. When the fro first broke out 10
sailors seized the long boat capable Of holding ca
o. 10 nersons and rowed off. They were prevailed
| upon to return and hke in 2! passengers -s..-l-
Capt smith, the two mates. Rothstien, and as many
~ the sailors as they could CONTROL lowered the three
ali hoa,s neither of them scaworthy). and placed In
them Ro,hsteus wife and four children, and the rest
NJ The Nesons passengers picked up by the Lafayette
| A, the bosu were rowsd sEN Eqn No ppEp9a salp'