The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-04-19
VOLUME 81, No. 81.
sNistellaueuns.
Calamity at Sea.
From the View York Tribune. April 3

ApphlHS CdldHlilicS uy HIe dt sea lHdO uaS
occurred for many years involving the lo
of lite. of some 52l souls, including men,
women and children, nearly four-fitths oil
whom were burned 10 death, owing to the
dastsrdly conduct of some few who were or
bonrd the ship, and had no thought but fol
scli preservation. We give below all the
particulars that could be obtained
On. Wednesday last the United States
stesm transport Gen Lyon sailed from vii.
niington for Fortress Monroe, having on
board 204 Of the 56th Illinois Regiment,
Third Division, Second Brigade, Fifteenth
Army Corps, who had served out thert time;
about 2O0 paroled and escaped prisoners,
and a considerable number of refugees,
making total, including the crew, of about
$50 persons. The Lyon proceeded as tar as
the bar, where she remained over night, and
about s o'clock on Thursday morning re-
sumed her course. Nothing of interest oc-
Cured until about 10 O'Clock OH Friday
morning. when, in shoal water, off Cape
Hattoras, the thrilling cry of fire was raised
and at once the scene was heartrcnding.
Women ran screaming on the decks, search
ing for their children or friends, while men
were quite US appalled, or frantic, and, in
the language Of one Of the survivors, it
seemed asit every one had suddenly be-
come bcreft of their senses, and the place
wssa very pandemonium. Soldiers who
had been with Sherman through all his hard
fought battles, and had never been known
to talter in the thickest OF battle, became as
helpless as little children.
The fire WAS caused by the bursting of n
barrel of coul oil in the portcr's room, di-
rcctly over the boiler, and in loss than five
minutes the flames were belching out on
deck, and, with the assistance of strong
gale, spread very rapidly. The mate of the
ship at onco went to work to get out tho
hose but The alarm aud excitement were SO
great thst but little progress could be made
toward extinguishing the fire. In the mean
silne, the captain Of the ship came up, and
in the most frantic manner exclaimed--5
she's gone! she gon,! There's no use
Gying to rave herr \ rush was then made
tor the ltn-boats, Of which there were but
three on board, and they were soon launch
ed Two OF the boats were on the bow of
the vessel, and as soon as one was launched,
the captain sprang into II, and pushed off,
-Sntent Oh saving his own life.
o.. Captain James Weber, of Go. X, Goth
illinois Regiment, succeeded in getting into
II e sa,iie boat, which n moment after was
sr7!ck by the wheel, and the Captain Of the
ship was instantly killed. Captain Weber,
EeiLY uninjurcd clunG to Tie sw.mrcd boat
on board the General Sedywick, about
quarter Of uii!c distant, lest his hold OF
gAe rope ard was drowned Our informant,
joseph Fitzgerald, Co. X, 56th Illinois. got
into the other boat, launched from the bow,
together with twelve others, and while en-
desyoring to get on board the Sed2wick, all
but five were drowned in consequence OF
the rough sea. A humber OF other persons
got into the third launch, and were saved,
while othcrs tossed overheard doors and
rlanks, and were subsequently picked up.
At the time he fire broke out, nearly 400
soliiesB were ssctc~, as but q few were al
bowed on deck at one time; and rs soon as
the alarm was given, the LADDERS were pulled
up from the matches, thus prccluding the
possibility Of escape, and there can be no
doubt tllut- they were burned to dcath.-'
Those remaining on deck jumped overheard
and were drowned. The whole number
Known to have been saved was ~, OF whom
70 we're sG3diels, and nine the crew ot the
chip. or the 204 Of tt,e 56th Illinois Reg
imcnt, all but four peri>llei, ieaclWli,ig all
uf the officers, George Williams, Of Com
pany E, 56:h illinois, conveyed woman on
plank to the SedgRck. but upon arriving
there, she was dead; he was sayed. Major
James Files, who was IN command OF the
56th Illinois, refused TO leave the ship, say
ing he would stick to her us long as there
was piece left as large as his two hands.
In three hours from the time the fire
broke out the ship was entirely destroyed -
The 3en. Sedgwick lay by until toward
night, and then left, the officers and crew
having done everything in their power to-
ward rescuing the unfortunate victims of
the Lyon, bat were unable to do more than
they did, in consequence Of the rough sea
and she close proximity to the breakers. -
The first engineer Of the Sedgwick was lost
overheard while endeavorng to rescue ono
of the sufferers. BE-
A detachment of the seth Illinois Regi-
ment had served out their time, and were on
their way to Springfield, ILL.,, where they
were to be mustered out Of the service
Major Files had all the papers belonging to
She priyates, and consequently the four sur
siyors, who arrived here yesterday, are
without any papers whatever, either upon
which to obtain their pay, amounting tc
nearly $400 each, or upon which to obtain
transportation to their homes.
Upon arriving at this city, Col. Vincent
Colycr superintendent of the New York
State Soldiers Depot, at Nos. SO and 50,
Howard street, had these four surviving!
veterans conducted ttbither where they will
receive every cetafyrt requisite during their
stay here .e.g.- .-g,.5 .zs.rt - o.. -. l..
sTATEMENT or a SOLDIER, ONE OF THE SUR
Ase,.u.4 t.r pVIVoRS s. n- i. ,
Isaiah G. Colby, of Co X, 9Th Ohio CAV
airy, one OF the survivors of the terrible dis
aster, arrived in this city yesterday noon by
che Steamer General Sedgwick. Mr.. Colby
has served in the araay!tor the last thirty
eight months, during which time he has
never had q iurlough. He ii one OF Gen
ShTuTIs heroes that made the irresistible
march through Georgia and the Carolinas
Sch6fsld's In North Careliaa, Mr.. Colby 5
discharged and at the time of burning, he
gives the following particulars Of the calam-
%Tho H.s9Transport, General Lyon runs
between Wilmington and Fortress Monroe
She left the bar off Wilmington on the morn
ing Of f-th5 Sott, bound to tho. latter place,
with about Ave hundred and fifty souls on
board, among whom were two hundred and
four discharged soldiers belonging to the
Both Hliatis Infantry, and in round numbers
aboutAsaa hundred and sixty aparcled and
escaI IRoup pfisoners,,- also between thirty
and, ,E5fty families of refugees. a The rest of
those On board were composed of the guard
Of the yessel4 mostly soldiers end the! Off |
GERS and crew. ~---
"Wehad boon out 10 sea one, day and
nigAt-when tho fire broke ont; it was about
0P. NJ. on the 8lsts ult, and the vessel
stoodf1R tam 1fattnras Wames wera first