The Portland daily press., 1865-04-05
The Loss of the Gen. LYON.

The loss by fire of the U. s. transport steam
er Gen. Lyon, about sixty miles of Hatteras,
on Friday morning last, is one of the most
There were on board from $50 to 900 souls,
not over thirty of whom are known to have
been saved. We clip the following from an
account given by those who escaped:
"Her passengers consisted of discharged
and parolled soldiers, escaped prisoners and
refugees, among whom were about thirty wo-
men and twenty five small children. At 10
o'clock on Friday morning she was off Cape
Hatteras, the wind having increased to hur-
r.cade and the sea running very high. Il is
believed that the vessel was about sixty miles
from land when an alarm of fire was given,
and in few minutes afterward the flames
broke out at the rear Of the pilot house and
nearly in the center OF the vessel. Several OF
the crew were in the rigging aud there were
very few persons on deck at the time, many
of the passengers being confined to their
berths by sickness.
But the flames steadily gained heaGway, and
the fire soon spread over the centre portion OF
the deck, driving the crew and those who
were assisting them to the stern and bow of
the vessel. The matches had been closed in
consequence OF the decks being SO constantly
under water, but those below. alarmed by the
smoke which was spreading through the cab
ins, rushed on deck only to be driven back by
the flames. The frightful shrieks of the wo-
men and children, and their piteous supplica-
tions for help, were drowned by the roaring
of the storm. In about half an hour after the
fire broke out, the engines partially stopped,
and the vessel Immediately swung round with
her broadside to the wind, the flames then
spreading across the deck.
The fre-pumps were still kept at work, and
the flames were fought back with great deter
mination. The shrieks and means of the dy-
ing came up to those on deck, but they could
do nothing to help them. Just at this time a
steamer, which proved to be the United States
transport Gen. Sedgwick, Capt. Starkey, and
small schooner hove in sight. Bot neither
OF them could render any assistance, owing to
the violence OF the storm and the fact that the
burning steamer had driltec in towards the
breakers. The boats were launched; into the
first boat ten men lowered themselves, includ-
ing the Captain of the Gen. Lyon. Hardly
had this boat been loosed from the vessels
side than she drifted under her stern, was
struck by the screw, and almost instantly won't
down. A second buat was leu.cned, and In
this tweIlty-seven pere lowered themselves,
and succaea sasla reaching the Gen. Sedgwick,
-hien was about mile and half distant.
As the boat touched the steamers side wave
uasneo ner violently against 1t, and she filed
and went down. OF the twenty. seven per-
SONS In the boat seven only were saved. In
, the meantime a number of the men had
thrown themselves overheard, trusting to a
spar for support One man, Isaiah G. Colby,
OF the Filth Ohio Cavalry, after working at
the fire pumps until he was almost exhausted,
seized one of the doors of the galley and
jumped overheard. He was In the water
three hours before he was picked up. Others
were also In the water for several hours, and
many, doubtless, sank before assistance could,
be rendered p afae s7sifa q
When the Sedgwick left, being unable to
render further assistance, the Inflated steam
er was drifting in toward the frightful break
ers off Cape Hatteras. She was then burned
down to the waters edge, and every soul on
board had doubtless persisted.
In regard to the origin of the fire, it was
stated by the 1st mate, while on board the
Gen. Sedgwick, that there were several bar
rels OF kerosene oil in the engine room, and
these being shaken down by the rolling of the
vessel fell on the boiler and of course were
quickly ignited. A barrel of oil was also
kept 10 the same room. and this served to feed
the flames" A