Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-04-12
Burning of the U. s. Transport Steam
er General Lyon, off Hatteras'
OYER FIVE HUN DRED LIVES LOST
From the New York Herald

troops, to u. 5. Assistant Quartermasler'
arrived at this port yesterday. sac re-
ports as follows:
On the 3lst ult, at halfpast ten a, M,
discovered steamer in shore on ire
Immediately bore down towards her, ana
found her to be the United States steam
transport Gen. Lyon, from Wilmington,
for Fortress Monroe, with troops aud ret
ugecs, to the number Of some four or live
hundred. The weather at the time was
ve.y holslerous, the wind blowlnga gale
from the ). w. Went as near her as pos
sible to lower and boats. Picked up as
many nswe could from boats, srars, planks,
Se. When we left her she was burned
almost to a shell and was fast drifting in
among HE breakers. There was schoon-
or near by, picking up persons, but could
not tell how many she saved,
STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE SAVED,
Mr.. Cyrus P. Williams, a member Of
Company +, Sd Pennsylvania artillery,
who was acting quartermaster, and issued
rutions to the escaped Union prisoners
and refugees, has furnished US with the
following interesting particulars:
There we're on board the steamer Gen.
Lyon, besides the officers and crew, two
hundred and four men, aud eleven oiii-
GERS OF the 5G!h Illinois regiment, who
had been mustered out OF service and
were on their way home, their time OF en-
lisiment having expired; sixteen men OF
the Sd Pennsylvania artillery one hun
drcd and iiity-seyen escaped and parcled
Union prisoners; sixty-seven male re(u-
81 It,ll plfD ~ q
men and children, on their way North
Besides these we're two commissioned oili-
Gers and eighteen enlisted men, Of the
y9th Nea York, acting us guard, making
in all rising OF six hundred persons on
board, oG whom The small number meE-
toned above is probably all that wero ST.
we'd, the sea rolling 60 high and the steam
er being 50 near the line OF breakers that
it was impossible for the unknown schoon-
er mentioaed TO render any assistance,
Our informant thinks that IN spite Of all
her efforts she was unable TO rescue a soul.
The fire broke out about ten o'clock on
Friday morning from Il light coming in
contact with barrel Of kerosene in the
porters room and, spreading with great
rapidly. Within haitian hour the vessel
was completely in flames. The sea was
rolling mountains high, and soene Of
the greatest excitement and confusion en-
sued. Immediately it was discovered
that the vessel was on fire, women aud
children ran shrieking about implorinG
to be sayed-on one eide the fire and on
the other
"The sea opening like hell"
Il 1l
only 10 be swallowed up by the madden
ed waves which still bore the burning
mass nearer and nearer TO the roaring and
surging breakers.
One boat was launched by the captain
Of The General Lyon, assisted 10y some sol.
diers, but was instantly stove, the cap
tain boing killed. Our informant and
one of the mates succeeded in getting O.
( -. ...O,,.iiiv i,fyOJat, into which. IA, ,
and two or three Others got. The boat,
/ however, was instantly upset, they bein 9
unable 10 detach the painter from the
burning steamer, aud all on board but
Mr.. Williams were washed out lie sue
ceeded in clngng to the boat, the steam
er still rushing with fearful velocity TO.
wards the Ureakeis, After many efforts
he brok loose from the steamer, and by
The aid ofIhe Coa! seven persons were res
cued.
The detachment Of Pennsylvania sol
diers to which Mr., Williams bel ngel va
on its way TO Gen. Urds commurd nov
/ battling IN front Of Richmond Ills eX
'psr!ence on board the banning steamer
was lifelong one, and The brave sold,e >,
! lip quiyered as lie related some Of th,
| narrowing scenes which occurred on the
/ Inflated steamer.
/ From other survivors we have received
/ the following additional information -
/ This gallant regiment, the jjth, who
formed a considerable portion of the uu.
/ Fortunate passengers Of the ili-iatei vessel,
were on their way from the front having,
nobly discharged their duty TO the coun-
/ |lry-aud, indeed, had exceeded THEN
term OF service-to be mustered out q,
! SprLgGeld. Two hundred aud fifteen
enlisted men and officers embarked at
/ Wilmington for Fortress Monroe on the
2Sth ult. The vessel was one night de-
Iayed oil the bar at the mouth OF the river
waiting for The tide. From the moment
the vessel started on her voyage the wea-
/ ther was rough and UOSterous, and great
numbers Of the passengers were in conse'
Quence below suffering from sea sickness
"a circumstance which subsequently lent
additional horrors to the terrible scene,
on board, as the great majority of those
thus confined were, in the excitement
and terror of the moment, unable to make
! their way to the deck, and thus fell vic
Tins to the smoke and flames withdht 0
chance or effort TO escape
I The fire having broken out MS above
described, spread with great rapidity. L
was, however, Immediately detected, anC
the efforts of the first mate, to whom ou
iniormants accord all praise, were at ones
directed TO its extinguishment' Bat a
lorm usurped the place Of coolness ant
discipline, ond al the efforts Of the mate
and a few of the crew, who ran 10 the al
frighled passengers, men and women, whit
ran about the deck, and thus prevented
timely application of the means Of safety
till all means were too late to be Of any a
vail. TWAS in view OF this state Of things
and the evident fate that awaited the yes
|, sci, that the captain cried: "'rhe ship j
gono.-lnwer oWav the bDatsp A wild