Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-06

fsras-OTer 500 Persons Burned 10
Heath or .DrOWned-The Victims
mainly Soldiers and ParOied Prls-
Oners,
The telegraph has already furnished our
readers with brief account of the burning |
of the transport Gen. Lyon, of Cape Hat
teras. We append somewhat more de-
tailed account, which we cOndense from
the New York papers of Monday:
On Wednesday, March 10Th, the United
States steam transport Gen. Lyon sailed
from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe,
having on board 2o4 of the 56Lh Illinois
Regiment, Third Division, Second Brigade,
Fifteenth Army Corps, who had served out
their time, about 200 psroled and escaped
prisoners, and a considerable number OF
refugees, making a total, including the
crew, of shout $50 persons. On Friday at
ten o'clock, when in shoal water off Cape
Hatteras, the cry of fire was raised. y was
caused by the bursting of barrel O. bal
oil in the porter's room, directly over the
boiler, and, in loss.than five minutes the
flames were belching out on deck, and, with
the assistance of a strong gale, spread very
rspidlv. The mate of the ship at once
went to work to get out the hose, but the
alsrm and excitement were SO great that
little progress could be made toward extln-
gushing the fire. In the meantime, the
captain of the ship came up, and IN the
most tfranticm exclaimed, 'she1s gonel
she's gonel there's no use trying to save
her" A rush was then made for the lite
boats, of which there were but three on
board, and they were soon launched. Two
of the boats were on the bow of the YES
SOL and as soon as one OF them was
launched, the captain sprsng into
it, and pushed of, intent on saving
his own life. The boat was struck by
wheel and the captain was instantly killed.
Another boat was launched from the bow
with thirteen persons in it, snd all but
five were drowned. A number got into
a third launch and were saved, while 9th.
ers tossed doors and planks overheard, and
we're subsequently picked up.
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 TIE alarm was given, the ladders were
pulled up from the matches, thus preclud-
ing the possibility of escape, and there can
be no doubt that they were burned to
death. Those remaining on Geek jumped
overheard and were drowned The whole
number known to have been saved was
tweuty-nine of whom twenty were soldiers,
and nine the crew of the ship. Of the
2O4 of the 56th Illinois Regiment, all but
four perished, including all of the officers.
George Williams of Company +, Both IL
linois, conveyed woman on plank to
the Sedgwick, but upon arriving there she
was dead he was saved. MSjor James
Files, who was in command Of the both
| Illinois, refused to leave the ship, saying
he would stick by her as long as there was
a piece left IS large as his two hands.
In three hours from the time the fire
broke out the ship was entirely destroyed
The General Sedgwick lay by until toward
night and then left the officers and crew
having done everything 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 the close proximity 10 the break
era. The first engineer of the Sedgwiel
was lost overheard while attempting t
rescue one of the suffers.
This detachment of the 56th Illinois
Regiment had served out their time, snC
ware on their way TO Springfield, Ohio, Il
be mustered out of service. Msjor File
had all the papers belonging TO the pri
vstes, and consequently the four survivors
who arrived here yesterday are without an.
papers whatever, either upon which to OBJ
tain sbeir psy, amounting to nearly $40
each, or upon which to obtain transporta
tion TO their homes.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
From The moment the vessel started oI
her voyage the weather was rough anC
boisterous, and great numbers Of the pas
sengers were in consequence below suffer
ing from ses-sickness; q circumstanc
which subsequently lent additional horrO
to the terrible scenes on board, as the gres
, majority Of those thus confined were, In tn
excitement and terror of the moment una
: BILE to make their way tothe deck, and thu
fell victims to the smoke and flames with
out q chance or effort to escape. The fire
having broken out as above described
spread with great rspidIty. It was, how
ever, Immediately detected, and the effort
of the first mate, to whom our informant
accord all praise. were at once eirecte
10 its extinguishment. But great slarI
I usurped the place of GOODNESS and disci
pline, and all the efforts of the mate and ,
T few of the crew, who ran to the hose, weT
0 rendered sbortive by the sfrighted passen
gers, men and women, who ran about tn
deck, and thus prevented timely applies
ton Of the means of safety till all mean
were too late TO be Of any avail 1t was /
3 view of this state of things, and the eVlden
J fate that awaited the vessel that the car
tain cried, GThe ship is gone-lower ava,
7 the boats r A wild, disorderly rush to th
! boats followed, the captain of the Geners
: Lyon, as it is stated, being among the mos
J eager to abandon the vessel and seek safet
in the first boat lowered. The moment th
boat touched the water he was overheard
l but in the next the boat came in collIsio
with the steamers wheel, and the csptai
was thrown out, the wheel striking him an
Captain Weber, of the 56th, and Instant
| sending them lifalesz beneath the waves
: The eDgineer snd first mate in vain al
: tempted to restore something like ordel
Major James Fyles, in command of tn
: 18th, made like vain endeavo
to quell the insane tumult that pre-
vailed; but all such efforts were useless i
J the presence of the fiery element that wa
, now fast gaining the mastery, and who's
inevitable spprosch deprived the unfortu
i nate people OF all hope from human aiC
f. Ofthe majority of those below seeking rel
but few escaped, and these only by rush
!, ing on deck at the first alarm. Throug
: some agency or other the matches weT
7 closed, and as the alarm spread the COZ
sternation of those below broke all bound
> A rush was made to the ladders, but tn
= wild instinct of self preservation deprive
= the unfortunstes of their only chance {
. escape to the deck. Those foremost on tn
! ladders were pulled back by the crowd VIII