The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-03
Burning Of the United States Transport
Steamer General Lyon OF Hatteras.
OVER FIVE HUNDRED LIVES LOST
Names Of q Portion OF the Saved
and Lost.
TERRIBLE SCENES OF SUFFERING.
&s., &C., ~.


Tho United States steam transport General Seogwick.
Captain Stsrkey, from Wilmington N c. soth ult, with
refugees and troops TO United States Assistant Quarter
MASTER arrived al this port yesterday She reports -
follows:-
On tho als ut at half past ton NJ OF Cape Hatteras,
latitude IS 05 longitude rs 49, discovered steamer in
shore ON Gre. Immediately bore down towards her. and
found her 10 be the United States steam transport General
Lyon from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe, with troops
and refugees to number Of four I'VE hundred
Tho weather at the time very boiserous the wind
blowing gale from the southwest Wont as near her ~
possible Found 1t impossible 70 lower any boats Picked
up A. many a. we could from boats spars planks, &c.
When We left her she burned almost to SHE'LL and
was fast drifting In among the breakers There was
schooner BY picking up psEsons, but could not toll
how many she saved
The following ID list Of the names Of those who
were left behind in hospitals a Wilmington :
John Hayden, nrst ohhcer.
Philip Smith, nras assistant engineer.
Geo. Gillespie, second assistant engineer
Owen Duggan, oiler
Richard Doyle, ooalpassef
Nlllsm Brown, second cook.
Almo Dec, WATERFALL Of steamer General Lyon =
The following u list Of those picked up by the General
Ssdgwck:-
n H. Orwent private, Co. Z, Fifty-sxth Illinois
John Kreusen, private. Co. =, Third Pennsylvania
heavy artillery.
Ira Lewis, Co. A. Eighty ninth Now York.
Michael g. Brocket, Co. =, Fifty sixth Illinois.
Robert Simpson, corporal, Co. @, Fifty fourth Ohio
Thomas Farar, refugee, Wilmington, N G.
James Edwards sergeant, Ninety ninth New York.
SiIas Galloway, Fifty -sxth New York.
Clarence Dunn refugee
Geo. Murphy, private, Co. A, Sixth New York heavy
artillery.
Geo. aoole, Co. r, Ono Hundred and Forty fourth New
York.
c. NJ Dodson, Third Pennsylvania heavy artillery.
Joseph Fitzgerald, Co. x, Fifty-second Illinois
James Dempsey, fireman, steamer General Lyon
Stephen Russell. refugee
Thomas Cooney, sailor, steamer General Lyon.
Nicholas Brown, sailor steamer General Lyon
Goo W williams private, Co. 9, Fiftysixth IlpnciA
Patrick Bryan, coalpasser, steamer General Lyon
Richard Clarke Co. r. Second Illinois light artillery
John Peoples, oiisr steamer oenerai Lyon
isaiah Cleolly private, Co. K Fifth Ohio cavalry
Cyrus p williams, Co. r. Third Pennsylvania artillery
James Gfbles, first ofacer, steamer General Lyon.
VIM. 0ranston, chief engineer, steamer General Lyon
Samuel fresse, first cook (oolored steamer Gen. Lyon
: Charles A. Brady, refugee
Statement Of One or the Saved.
Mr. Cyrus p williams member of Company =, Third
Psnnsylv~na artillery, who was acting quarternaster
and issued ratons 70 the escaped Union prisoners and
refugees has furnished u with the following interesting
partiouars:-
There wero on board the steamer General Lyon besides
the officers and crew, two bundred and four mon and
eleven officers OF the Ty slxsh Illinois regiment, who
had been mustered Of service and their way
home their time Of Enlistment having expired sixteen
men Of the Third Pennsylvana artillery; one hundred
and ATTY seven escaped and paro,sd Union prisoners
sixtyseven male refugees and fuzzy one hundred refugee
women and children their way North. Besides these
were two commissioned ofcers and eighteen enlisted
men Of the Nnssy-ninth New York, acting . guard,
making in all rising Of SIX hundred persons on beard Of
whom the small number mentioned above u probably oil
that were saved the rolling high and the steamer
being 90 near the line Of brealssrs that was impossible
foYthe unknown schooner mentioned 70 render any
sstance Our informant thinks that in spte Of all her
EFFORTS she unable 10 rescue soul
The Gre broke out al about O'Clock Friday morn
ing from light coming In contact with barrel Of kero
the porters ROOM and, spreading with great ~
pdiy within half hour the vessel was completely in
Hamea The rolling mountains high, and scene
Of the greatest exstement and confusion snsued mmcd
atey was discovered that the vessel Are Women
and children ran shriekns about, impioring 70 b
savod-ono on side the nre and on the other
"The sea opening like hell"
Scores sprsng from the burning vessel only 70 be
swallowed up by the maddsned waves which stiIl bore
the burning mass nearer and the roaring and
suTging breakers
One boat launched by the captain Of the deners
Lyon assisted by soldiers but vas instantly stove
the captain being killed Our informant and Of the
mates succeeded In getting metallic Kcboat into
which they and two three others got The boat how.
ever, was instantly upset. they being unable TO detach
the painter from the burning steamer and all on board
but M williams were washed out He succeeded In
cnging the boat the steamer si rushing with fear
full velocity tovards the bre~kers After many efforts
he broke loose from the steamer and by the aid Of the
boat seven persons wore rescued
The detachment Of Pennsyvania soldiers 70 which Mr..
williams belonged on ts way TO Gen. 0rd's COM
nand, now battling In front Of Richmond His exps-
rence on board the burning steamer was lifelong one
and the brave soldiers lip quivered he related some Of
the narrowing scenes which occurred on the -eaasd
steamer.