Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-04-21
Appalling Calamity at Sea.
Eve Hundred Lices Lost.

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Fire Hundred Lices Lost.
One of the most appalling ealsmities
by fire at sea that has occurred for many
wears, INVOLVING the loss of life Of over
five hundred persons; including men, vss
men and children, occurred On Friday
week. off Cape Hattsras; tho psrtieulsss
of which are given bellows
On Wednesday last the U. 3. steam
transport Gen. Lyon ,sailed from Will
mington for Fortress Motroc, having q
board 204 Of the seth Illinois Regiment,
Third Division, Second Brigade, Fifteenth
Army Corps, who had served out theft
time, about 200 paroled and escaped
prisoners, and a considerable samber Of
refugees, making a total, including the
crew, Of about $40 persons. The wealth.
er was fair on leaving Wilmington, but
the steamer put into the pert Of Smith-
field for the night and resumed her voy<
age on the following morning. Soon
after leaving Smithfiefd the wind which
was blowing from the southwest, increase
ed in violence, and the vessel, which WIS
a very slow one, made but little progress.
At 10 o'clock on Friday morning she WAS
off Cape Hatteras, the wind having in.
creased to hurricane and the sea rum
ming very high. 1t is believed that the
vessel was about 60 miles from land
when an alarm of fire was given, and IN
a few minutes afterward the flames broke
out at the rear Of the pilot house and
nearly in the centre Of the vessel. Sew.
eral Of the crew were in the rigging, and
there were few persons on the deck IL
the time, many Of the passengers being
confined to their berths by sickness.
The first mate, James Gibbs, and tho
other officers of the vessel Immediately
got the fire pumps to work, with which,
and the requisite quantity Of hose. the
vessel was we'll provided. But the flames
steadily gained Roadway, and although
the pumps were worked with unfinching
perseverance, 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 weasel.
The matches had been closed in coase.
quence Of the decks being so constantly
under water, but those below. alarmed By
the smoke which was spreading through
the cabins, rushed on deck only to Be-
driven back by the flames. The frightful
shrieks of the women and children, asd
their piteous supplications for help, were
drowned by the rearing Of the Storm
Several of the paroled soldiers were sick
and confined to their berths. Some Of
them managed to crawl on deck. and
clung there until washed overheard BY
the waves. In about half an hour after
bhe 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.
1t had now become quite evident that
the ship could not be saved. The 6rst
officer acted with great courage, and only
abandoned the vessel when all hopes Of
saving her were gone. The fre pumrs
were still kept at work, and the flames
were fought back with great determine.
ton. Many Of those below we're doubt.
less already suffocated. The shrieks and
means of the dying came up to those on
deck, but they could do nothing to help
them. Just at this time steamer, which
proved to be the U. S. transport Gen.
Scdgwick. Capt. Starkcy, and . small
schooner, hove in sight.
But neither of them could render anv
assistance, owing to the violence of tho
storm. and the fact that the burning
steamer had drittcd in toward the break.
ers. The flames were now spreading
with fearful rapidity. The boats wers
launched, although there appeared to be
little hope of their living in such . sea.
Into the drst boat ten men lowered them.
selves, including the Captain Of the Gen.
Lyon. 1t is affirmed by several of those
who escaped that the Captain had lost sll
control of himself, and was evidently
crazed with fear. Hardly had this best
been looscd from the vessels side then
she drttcd under her stern, was struck
by the screw, and almost instantly went
down. lrah Lewis, a private in the
Eighty.ninth N. Y. Regiment, who was
III 'Hc hOat Ne thS stthC, StAtcS SuAb NO
saw the Captain sink. Lewis and two
others alone escaped. a second boat wxs
launched, and in this tvcnty.seven per.
sons, including the First Mate, John Hay.
don, lowered themselves and succeed in
reaching the Gen. Scdgwick, which was
about mile and a half distant. As the
boat touched the steamers side, = wavs
dashed her violently against it, and she
filled and went down. Of tho twenty.
seven persons in the boat, seven only were
saved. Among these we're the Mate,
James Gibbs, Barney Losey, Of the 9th
Virginia Regiment, and John Fitzgerald, i,
Of the 56;h Illinois. In the meantime .
number of the men had thrown them.
selves overheard, trusting to q spar for
support. One man, Isaiah e. Colby, Of
the 9th Ohio Cavalry, alter working at
the fire pumps until he was almost OK.
hausted, seized one Of the doors Of the
galley and sprang overheard. lie WAS in
the water three hours before he was pick.
ed up. Others were also ia tho water
for several hours, and many, doubtless,
sank before assistance could be rendered.
1t is supposed that tbe schooner did no,
sicceed in reseun NC any Of them.
When the Gen. Sedgwick left, being
unable to render further assistance, thu
ill-!ated steamer was drifting in TOW ard
the f.ishtful breakers off Cape Hatt.ras.
She was then burned down 70 tho v.ter .