The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-04-25
Appalling Calamity at Sea.
Over 500 Persons Burned 10
Deatk or Drowned.

Il Il.l.
By the arrival of the steamer Gen.
Sedgwick at New York, we are in pos
session of the facts of one of the most
appalling calamities by fire at sea that
has occurred for many years, involving
the loss of life of some 52l souls, in
cluding men, women and children,
nearly four-fifths of whom were burned
to death, owing to the dastardly con-
duct of some few who were on board
the ship and had no thought but for
self preservation. 9ng1f ftr
On Wednesday last the United
States. steam transport Gen. Lyon sail
ed from Wilmington for Fort. Monroe,
having on board 2O4 of the seth Illinois
Regiment, Third Division, Second
Brigade, Fifteenth Army Corps, who
hap served out their time, about 200
paroled an 1 escaped prisoners, and a
considerable number of refugees, max
ing total of about $50 persons. The
Lyon proceeded as far as the bar,
where She remained over night, and
about o'clock on Thursday morning
resumed her course. Nothing of in
terest occurred until about 10 o'clock
on Friday morning, when, in shoal
water off Cape Hatteras, the thrilling
cry of fire was raised, and at once the
scene was heartrending. Women ran
screaming on the decks searching for
their children or friends, while men
were quite as appalled, or frantic, and,
in the language of one of the survivors,
it seemed as if every one had suddenly
become bereft of their senses, and the
place was a very pandemonian. Sol-
diers who had been with Sherman
through all his hard-fought battles, and
had never been known to falter in the
thickest of battle, became as helpless
as little children. .JE
The fire was caused by the bursting
of q barrel of GOAL oil in the porter's
room, directly over the boiler, and in
less than five minutes the flames were
belching out on deck, and with the cas-
sistance of strong gale, spread very
rapidly. The mute of the ship at once
went to work to get out the hose, but
the alarm and excitement were so great
that but little progress could be made
toward extinguishing the fire. In the
meantime the Captain came up, and in
the most frantic manner exclaimed,
"she's gone! she's gone! there's no use
trying to save herw' rush was then
made for the life-boats, of which there
were but three on board, and they were
soon launched. Two of the boats were
on the bow of the vessel, and as soon
as one was launched, the Captain
sprang into it, and pushed off, intent
on saving his own life. Captain James
Weber, of company X, seth Illinois
regiment, succeeded in getting into the
same boat, which in moment after
was struck by the wheel, and the Cap
tain of the ship was instantly killed.
Captain Weber, being nninjured, clung
to the swamped boat, but subsequently,
as he was being hauled on board the
Gen, Sedwick, about mile distant, lost
his hold of the rope and was drowned.
Our informant, Joseph Fitzgerald, com.
pany X, seth Illinois, got into the othet
boat launched from the bow, together
with twelve others, and while endeavor-
ing to get on board the Sedwick all
but five were drowned, in consequence
of the rough sea. A number of other
persons got into the third launch and
were saved, while others tossed over.
poard doors and planks, and were sub
sequently picked up. 1a. -
At the time the fire broke out, nearly
400 soldiers were below, as but few
were allowed on deck at one time; and
as soon as the alarm was given, the
ladders were pulled up from. the hatch
es thus precluding the possibility of es'
cape, and there can be no doubt that
they were burned TO death. Those re.
naming on deck jumped overheard
and were drowned. The whole num-
Der known to have been saved was
twenty-nine, of whom twenty were sol
diers, and nine the crew of the ship.
Of the 2O4 of the seth Illinois Regt
all but four perished, including all the
officers. George Williams, of Co. +.
seth Illinois, conveyed woman on
plank to the Sedwiek, but upon arriv-
ing there she was dead; he was saved.
Major Files, who was in command Of
the seth Illinois, refused to leave the
ship, saying he would stick to her as
long as there was peice left as large
as his two hands.
In three hours from the time the fire
broke out the ship was entirely de-
stroyed' The Gen. Sedwick lay by
until toward night, and then left, the
officers and crew having done every
thing in their power toward rescuing
the unfortunate beings Of the Lyon,
but were unable to do more than they
did, in consequence Of the rough sea,
and close proximity to the breakers.
The first engineer Of the Sedwick was
lost overheard while endeavoring to
| rescna one of the sufferers. ~.