The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-19
AN INCIDENT.


The TWO first Of the rescuing Doats from the Electra
that reached the -a,ed steamer were in charge of
Nj David Crowley and Mr.. Charles B. smith, the
sane two gentlemen who, upon a similar occasion,
rendered like service together twenty.six years
ago. near the same place. IL was at the time that
the steamer Ler,n0ton was burned IN 1S40 and hile
both were very young men, lnelr services we're not
properly acknowledged then, but they should both
effort thev had to pull their way through burning
bales Of cotton, boxes, etc and 1t was only by their
utmost superhuman exertions that so many per ons
were picked out Of the water. Both are now officers
on board OF the pTopol or Electra.
THE SCHOONER GENERAL g. VAN vLIET"
The confusion on board OF the schooner almost
AZ eat es that on the steamer Alter striking tine
| city of Norwch she receded from the shock, and
the crew, believing her to be SINKING deserted her;
but having more leisure than those on the steamer
they did only after saving their personal effects,
and also q tavorlte cat which they placed IN the
boat before showing off for the EIectrG The crew of
| the General s. Vdn THet, together with all those
rescued from the steamer, were brought to this city
early YESTERDAY morning on board OF the Electra,
and hls officers and those under their command, VINO
DID every tning In their power to make the uniortu
mates as comfortable as circumstances would permit.
NAMES OF THE RESCUED.
The following is a complete list of those saved as
far as could be ascertaHed. lhe passenger list being
lost with the vessel renders 1T impossible to procure
Passengers-Mrs Rosseau, Mrs S. G. osgood mr..
ID. Turner, Mr. p. Douglass, with many Others,
who went to their homes arriving in this city.
Captain, ID. b. Sturges Chef Nate Charles John.
SON. New York Assistant Mate, James a.: Adams,
wien; Assistant Engineer, George Hlbbard, do;
LhIef Pilot Henry l., Tracey, do; Assistant Pilot,
SEsePh DO 90 a ieTS Pce GdWa5d A
ant Steward, Thomas Spinner (coloredL Fortress
Monroe.
Deck hands-Michael Mcmahon, William Burk,
Robert sullivan, James Murphy, Timothy DIIscol,
Thomas DIscoll, Cornelius Ridly, John Welsh,
David Fraser, Patrick Welsh, Cornelius Collins
Oler-Eijah Benham, GIoton.
FiremenS Charles Beckwith, Groton; = Smith
ttwO) brothers GrOton, John Adams, New London.
Deck Watchman-D aeon L. IL. Tracy, Norwich.
Lookout Watch-George Crooker, NorwicR
bruised about the legs arms and face. Mr.. sartin,
the agent of the New York Transportation Com.
tended to- and all those who had lost their clothes
were furnished with new ones at the expense Of the
TIE "crTY OF NORWICH"
1he steamer city of NorDicb was built in this city
some four years since by Mr. Jonn English, and was
rated at a. out one thousand three hundred tons
burden (neY measurement) The City OF NortOich
was slde-wheel steamer, and in her earlier career
was in the service OF the United States Government
running between this CITY and Fortress Monroe
She sank in less than an hour after being run into,
ana was valued, with her cargo. at a million of
dollars. The vessel was fully insured.
| STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE PASSENGERS.
! Mr.. Henry Turner, a merchant of Norwich, who
was passenger on board of the city of Nortoich at
the time OF the disaster states that when the collision
| occurred he was asleep in his stateroom, and was
| awakened by sudden crash, whereupon he immer
the steamer had been run into, and he thought he
would return to his stateroom to his watch and
| money he having about q thousand dollars in the
| statCroom; but on turning back he found that the
steamer was on fire, and as the flames spread.
| ing so rapidly it was impossible for him to
save his property He had nothing on but his;over-
| coat and pants and in order to avoid being
| burned to death he had to jump overheard.
He then began to SWIM as fast possible to reach
| q small boat which by this time had appeared in
| the water but as too many persons were cnging
| into the wafer. Mr.. Turner, however, rose again,
and made another eXertion to reach the boat, but
| in the attempt was nearly drowned. Mr.. Turner,
like the other passengers, was very shattered in his
mind in consequence of this righttul accident. He
states that there only fifteen passengers on
| board of the Itated boat two of whom appear to
be missing. These are, as stated by Mr.. Turner
| little son of Samuel Osgood, of this city and son
OF the Chief Engineer OF the boat.
STATEMENT OF The CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE
| "ELECTRA."
Charles Smith, the chief engineer of the Electra
states that about four O'Clock IN the morning he
alarmed, and on going out saw steamer IN flames.
| He Immediately went on deck and lowered one of
| the life bOais He picked up six or seven men. Mr.
Crowley, the chief mate, by this time had gone out
in the first boat and rescued SIX eight men q nd
| two women. The fire on the burning vessel spread
| very rapidly, and in ten minutes from the
| in flames from fore to aft. The chief engi-
neeI's boats crew composed of MIR. Hal
| leck, the eXpTessman Of the Neptune Express
Mr. Smith, the steward of the Electra, and a few
others, who all did their best from drown
| ing those persons who had trusted themselves to
the waves TO escape from the burning vessel, and
| rendered efficient service. MIR. smith Is OF the
opinion that tine fire originated during the collision
OF the City of NoTsoich with the schooner, from the
rising OF the water when the vessel passed. lifting
| the fires. which communicated with the woodwork
| and at once enVeloped the whole vessel in flames
| 1he disaster occurred near the same spot where,
| by the steamer Monitor, and where the steamer
| Lexington was burned in 1840-N. Y. Herald.