New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-03

ronrs nrmhors obont ono hundred and sixty paro!ed
and eseapcd Union prisoners; also between tniy anu
forty families Of refugees The rest Ok those OIL
were composed Of the guard OF tho vessel uV''!
soldiers aud the officers end crew. we hau pee' o.'
to sea one day aud night When the hIe Diohe ou''
was about p. m the 3lsi inst ana Tue 'esS'i
on Cape Hatteras. Flames were hrst seen 70 iss"'
from the porers ROOM situated back OF ue pl"'nous'
very nearly anidship.. Several OF us uannea TEE
punps and worked them for about forty minutes III IVY
ing to put out the fires; but to purpose. hea'y
guile was blowing at tie time. which famed the hrc'
and quantity Of oil which was on board the snip
caught FIRE ard spread rapidly over the deck lnfee.
quarters Of hour after the flames broke out the hs
boat was launched In the midst OF heavy IL Grn'
ed under The stern Of the vessel and smashed 10
pieces by the paddle.whecl. Ten men were IN
the boat. seven Of whom were drowned. including
the captain Of the vesst Finding Tire Ere could not
be checked tore door from The galley and threw ii
overheard and then followed It, / YVES In the water
three bonrs as near as could lndge when the steamer
Gen ssdgwck hove in sight aud picked me up. was
then at least 800 yards from the burning vessel. She
was st burning and rapidly drifting on the shoals No
ono eoud be secn on board Of hers oil that was observ
able above deck was her smoke stack. While In the
water saw two boats filed with about II soldiers in
49,
az their surviving IT, One Of the boats lost while
the Gen Sedgwick was endeavoriDg to cave hor' Sh'
capszcd and Of those on board only one person was
saved q negro cook. The Chief Engineer OF the Zen
Sedgvick. while trying TO drowning
man. fell overheard and was drowned. III
belonged 10 this city, but 1 do not know hi
name, The other Of the two boats have no know
ledge o. think she WAS picked UP by the Cen. sedg
wick, but am not sure. as was entirely exhausted
when rescued. and was sent below. schooner also
came No I'm SIGHT half ali hour before was picked up
but she could not assist me- she having on too much
Roadway. A rope was thrown me. but could not
catch H. After my the Gen. ;. steamed toward
the burnina vessel and went 10 within seven fahos OF
water, but could no, reach her, When jumped over
board from the len. Lyon between 80 and % persons
had preceded me. They cinging 10 doors chairs
and other floating materials The scene on deck when
left was most heartrendins. There were abont fifty
women and children board belonging to the refugee
families and they moaning and begging FOR he
Old soldiers, who had faced tie enemy innumcraole
times, were crying and praying. None OF the
women or children were In the water What be-
came Of them do not know. Nearly all Of the paroed
and escsped prisoners sick below deck. and were
most probably burned TO death. The Gen. Sedgwick
rescued 20 soldiers and Of the VI the Gen. Lyon
That 1. all that Is known 70 have been saved although
IL hoped that the schooner which was seen may have
picked mp some. Among those On the Gen. Lyon whom
| knew we're Thomas W. Smith, james W. Zinn, and
Peter Wade all Of the 5th Ohio Cavalry am unaware
of their fate. Those rescued In common with mysef
received the kindest attention from the officers and
crew OF the Gen Sedgwlck We arrived in this city on
Sunday noon"
Mr.. Colby describes the scene board the burning
vessel as one OF the most terrible and impressive sights
he ever winessed-clldron begging their mothers to
save them while the mothers were rendered 1antic by
their appeals soldiers suffering the most horrd agony
and shriekine. grooming and crying were the aafui
sights displayed.