The Portland daily press., 1865-01-07
Destruction of Steamer Potomac = Four
Lives Lost.

Lives Lost. .rhHp
Steamer Potomac, of the New England
Screw Steamship Company's line, plying be-
tween this city and New York, commanded by
Capt. Sherwood, left New York at 4P. NJ,
on Wednesday last with five passengers, one of
whom was lady, and crew numbering
eighteen. as
At 43O A. M, Friday, Cape Elizabeth lights
bearing N. by E., mines miles distant, it was
discovered that the steamer was one fire in the
after-house by the steam chimney. The hose
was got ready and the captain gave orders to
work the donkey pump, but the fire had made
such progress in the engine room that it was
impossible to get there to start the pump. As
the fire was spreading rapidly, with a strong
breeze to s. W., they commenced clearing
away the boats. The starboard boat was en-
veloped in flames so that 1t could not be reach
3D. They succeeded in launching the port
boat, though one side of that was on fire.
Finding the boat would not contain all the
passengers and crew, the foremost was cut
away for the purpose of making raft. This
accomplished, Capt Sherwood and the pas
sengers with a few of the crew took the boat
and the remainder of the crew the raft, the
flames driving them from the steamer. The
boat being on the lee side of the ship, they
were obliged to let go for fear of being suf-
located. 9e h3ss
1t being dark, those in the boat lost sight of
those on the raft and they pulled round to get
assistance, if possible, both for themselves and
those on the raft. At half past o'clock, A.
NJ, those in the boat were picked up by schoon-
En-, Capt Willard, who Immediately pro-
ceeded back in search of those on the raft. On
approaching the burning steamer they dis
covered three schooners by her, and were in
formed that nothing had been seen of the raft.
Capt. Willard then worked about i've miles
to windward, and at 10 O'Clock A. NJ, fell in
with the raft and took three men on board
four having been swept from it and drowned.
The names of those swept from the raft
were Charles E. Wilson of Boston, chief mate I;
Charles Libby and Mr.. Gregg of this city,
oilers and the I'd cook of the steamer, Ger
man, shipped in New York. The survivors
were brought to this city in the schooner.
In the meantime the schooners that had fast
ened to the steamer, towed her up to the city
and run her in the dock at the steamboat
wharf foot of State street. She was burned
to the waters edge and will be a total loss.-
Her cargo was very light. Steam fire engine
Casco was sent to the wharf, and soon drown
ed the flames in the vessel.
The steamer was valued at about $40, 600,
and was insured for $27, 900 in New York Of
fees. She was staunch vessel Of 448 tons
burthen. .slna lse'9a 7ia
Capt. Inman, U. S. A., very kindly placed
the Government tug at the disposal Of those
who wished to go to, the assistance Of the
burning vessel. The steam tug Warrior was
also sent down by Messrs. Emery q Fox
Notwithstanding these steamers were forbid
den by the captains the schooners who had
fastened to the wreck from doing any thing,
yet they started their pumps and succeeded in
in subduing the flames SO that the wreck could
be towed up to the city. Lieut.. Lay, OF
revenue cutter Dobbin, also went to the as
sistance Of the steamer, with a boats crew. and
aided In towing her up to the dock. agps
The fire was seen in Scarboro' soon after it
broke out on board the steamer, but it was
not until the arrival of Capt. Wizards schoon-
er, that it was known what vessel it was.
The following are the consignees of the
cargo Of the steamer. Nothing but the iron
will be saved from it:
w. C. R. Milliken, 80 kegs soda and
cases cinnamon, case soap, packages do;
DeIano & Quinn, plate iron; Byron Green
ough e. Co., bale sisal; w. & f. Phillips, 2
boxes, bundle; Gusts & Son, % boxes paraf-
fine; 81. w. Lancey & Co., 1876 kegs nails; j.
Coolidge & Co., 20 kegs soda; Hersey Fetch
er & Co, 10 tierces lard; Davis & Co., Dbl
Marrett & Poor, 1 box shades Emery & Water
house, box hard ware; L. w. Atwood, Dbl.
oysters; A. Freeman, Dbl. do; j. Kyle, Dbl.
do; j. w. Adams, | case plants; Lowell &
Senter, box merchandise John Lynch &
Co., 100 bbls beef; A. e. Stevens q Co., At
bars and bundles iron; Rufus Stanley DBL;
E. Miller box; T. S. tAugusta) 8 coils rope;
c. F. Potter, do box; Wing & Williams, do,
6 cases and kegs: Bartlett q Hartwell, do,
10 bbls J. Munroe & Co., Auburn, 20 bundles
leather; S. F. Packard & Co., do, 16 bundles
leather; Alden Sampson d Co., Hallowell,
case oil cloth; S. G. Davis, do, 2 kegs; j.
Southland, Richmond, iron safe; A. G.. Den
nison e. Co, Mechanic Falls, 8 bundles Irvine :;
&C" Pennington, 2 bbls. liquor: 49," New
Portland. 2 bbla. liquor; Edward Savage, Lam
caster, N. H., 10 cases, Dbl. No freight for
Canada.