The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-27
THE TERRIBLE FIRE.
Official Report Of the Burning Of the
william Nelson.
The Conduct Of the Captain
indicated.
HORRIBLE SCENES AND SUFFERINGS,
&c., &C., &c.
HORRIBLE SCENES AND suFFERINGs

The William Nelson left Antwerp on the lst of June
last, with cargo OF rails wine and various mercnan han
sengers, and crew of thirty men, including the captain
The ship did not however, put 70 sea until the 4th OF
June The voyage continued without incident worthy OF
remark until the 26h OF June, when the ship had reached
latitude Al 20, longitude 81 COW
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The captain here observed that several emgrants who
had i'll for days suffering from violent
fever and, fearing that this might become contagious,
he gave orders at ten A. NJ on the 26h TO the first
and carpenter to 90 below and make the passengers
deck in order that the ship might be umgated,
precautionary measure The passengers having all
ascended the first mate and carpenter aga sent be-
low with several sailors furnished with buckets and
red hot irons. The operation was nearly completed:
about half past twelve o'clock when the last tar barrel
burst into flame, and the boiling tar flowed upon
the deck in the centre Of the Ship seriously burning the
vessel Immediately took fire. The middle deck then,
may be imagined full Of SMOKE and the ignitcd tar
which had fallen on the deck flowed with the roll OF the
ship under the bed OF one OF the emgrants setting on
fire.
IT SPREADS WITH THE RAPIDITy OF LIGHTNING.
In an instant the flames spread all the other beds
fore aft rendering 1t impossible for the to do
anything TO extinguish them. Even before they could
through the hatchway and reaching the sheets Of the
mansail fall sail set at that moment enveloped the
manmast with the rapdity of lightning In the twink
ling of eye all the sails on the manmas were on fire,
well as the rigging.
THE BOATS GOT READY.
The captain Immediately ordered part OF the crew to
get the boats ready in order to save many passengers
possible and the rest to close the ventilators and
the hatchways. This was hardly done, when number
of men, consisting partly Of sailors and partly OF em
grants, formed chain fore and aft in order TO pass
buckets of water, which were poured down the main
hatchway whence issued column of fame. The pumps
were also set at work. Hitherto discipline and good
order had been maintained The fire, however, made
such rapid progress above and below that the captain
considered his duty to lower the boats Immediately
APANIC AMONG THE PASSENGERS.
But now general panic seized the unfortunate pas
sengers all Of them throwing themselves upon the
boats which from their numbers 1t completely i'm
| possible 10 prevent One had sooner touched the
water than she capslzed by number Of emigrants
who jumped into her These not knowing how TO swim,
nearly all drowned Four sailors, however, who
also in the water, succeeded with much risk In
righng boat and bringing the side Of the vessel
struggling in the But while the boat still
alongside some more emigrants eaped into and cap.
right it, and took on board many passengers as II
| could hold.
The captain himself assisted In lowering the launch
| and the second mate the only sailor who entered IT,
was fortunate enough TO save several cabin passen
| gers among others women and four children,
were lowered with much trouble The largest
the crew. e some Of whom got into another boat less
heavily laden leaving two 10 steer The last boat with
IN rens Of
jump in on the ship fell into the water and swan around
IL It miraculous that was not capszed in the efforts
the poor creatures made 70 get on board.
ARAFr MADE READY.
Meanwhile the captain seeing that he could do nothing
to the ship ordered the rest Of the crew. about
fifteen men, throw overheard everything possible that
would 00at-spars planks, barrels, hencoops, &c All
were lashed together so as 70 form kind OF raft IN
| finished when the unhappy passengers still board
losing all presence Of mind threw themselves upon in
large numbers followed by several Of the sailors filling
the with dcspairng cries Others board the ship
rushed madly from end OF the deck TO the other
and going into the cabin broke the furniture and threw
| 1t into the water.
| CONFUSION HORROR AND DESPAIR.
|
thing possible to conceive The tumut such that II
was Impossible for the Captain TO make himself heard
though giving reiterated orders and seeking to stop the
panic This took place about half an hour after the re
broke out At this time from hundred and thirty TO
hundred and fifty emgrants had succeeded In get
ting upon spars alongside the ship, though there were
many struggling in the water, when the topmasts with
right upon them killing many at once and throwing the
others into the sea- The cries Of the wounded and
drowning were terrible Words are poweress TO give an
board the ship in their great terror surrounded the
Captain and the sailors cingng 70 them and beseechng
| them 10 save them. But they could do nothing
FIGHTING FOR THE RAFT.
Some time after the fire between decks gaining the
upper deck and the masts, q fresh panic broke out
to set upon The raft The poor creatures fought among
themselves reach Several fell into the water and
drowned others succeeded in reaching the raft
they escape their fate, for the mainmaet
fell upon them some minutes Afterwards and crushed
several 70 death. Tho frighful scenc was again
presented Then only did the second mate and few o
| the crew Jump overheard. Being good swimmers they
proceeded towards the boats some distance and
fortunate enough 70 reach them and still more % IN
being taken In by the occupants
STILL ANOTHER HORROR.
After these lamentabe and horrible events there was
still terrible 10 take place About two hours a.
ter the Gre broke part Of the dock being entirely
undermined fell In, and large number OF emigrants
were precipitated headonR into the burning furnace
names leaping out Of this gulf; the heat was
mnocating, and II impossible 70 remain any longer
| on board. Some passenger jumped INTO the 50 and
posed 70 have been drowned The lashngs which held
the raft together being burnt through parted in two
with many persons cngng 70 the planks and many IN
oernea'n' -~-~ saAefssls ~SSxp~
THE CAPTAIN JUMPS ovrRBoARD AND swlns FOE
The Captain under the absolute mpossbility Of doing
to remain with them longer jumped overheard and
ing two boats nj great distance, swan towards them
After swimming for threcquarers Of an hour together
with two sailors who followed him. they were 81 last per
ceved and recognized by the emgrants, who with ths
greatest humanity s.eered towards them and at the rsl
Of almost complete exhaustion.
| THE SHIP GOES DOWN WITH ALL ON BOARD.
| The Captain then took the command OF the two boat
and Immediately steered towards the ship W order
those ciinging 10 various objects and oe'
hanging upon the ships bowsprit But nothing couls
ship until three A. NJ, when she sank carrying with he
the rest Of the poor creatures on board.
| sUFPERINGs AND ESCAPE OF THE SURVIVORS.
| The boats then steered north northwest 1Dcrc Wh
no water on board either Of them One had provisions
and the other had two or three fowls duck and pig
During all this time the was fortunately calm, fo
had the lghteet breeze arisen all must inevitably hav
perished the boats being laden nearly TO the water
edge The shpwrecked party continued their way unit
Ave M and were then seen and saved by the steame
| Lafayette The third boat met by the Russian
three. .masted bark Ilmari, which spoke the In
fayette the same night Az the request o
| Captain Bocande, the captain OF the Ilmari trans
| ferred his shipwrecked guests TO the Lafayette
which thus had board the fory-two persons who's
/ sLa hnf Ittlxt Enpxs
The Mercury picked up the fourth boat crew. respecting
whose fate 80 much anxiety felt the 2tb OF June
The captain OF the Mercury lay TO for several days
subsequently crused about In the neghborhood Of tn
disaster with watches the yards, in the hope Of
| ing others Of the shipwreckcd One man, and subse
quently one woman and three men thus picked up
This is the fourth service Of the kind which the capital
Of the Mercury has been fortunate enough 70 render
shipwrecked crews. Among other recompcnses he ha
al... frUInl lbo