Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-02-28
burning of the Steamer City of
Bath.

-Four of the crew of the steamer City Of
Bath, which was destroyed by fire on
Sunday morning, 10th inst, arrived
in Boston on Thursday last, and from
statements made by them we CLEAN the
following particulars OF the sad affair,
which are at present, and perhaps for
the future, all that can be known of it.
Their names are Charles o. Davis, Pat
rick Donovan, jeremiah 0'Brien and
Frank Tobey, all who are known to have
been rescued.
The City of Bath was large screw
propeller, belonging to Messrs. Richard
son and Otis of Boston, running on the
line between this port and Savannah
and was bound to the latter city, when
she was lost, having on board a large
assorted cargo.
Sunday morning, the 10th inst, be-
tween the hours Of twelve and one
O'Clock, when the vessel was about
thirty.fve miles northwest of Cape
Hatteras, near the edge of the Gulf
stream, fire was discovered well under
headway in or near the coal bunkers,
which are situated on either side of the
boilers, forward.
The origin of the fire is unknown, and
the statement which has been made
that it originated from the bursting of
lamp is entirely improbable. inasmuch
as lard oil is the only fuel for light used
on board the steamers upon that line.
The fire had made headway so rapidly
that in two or three minutes after its
discovery the coal passers and tlremen
were obliged to abandon their posts.
The engineer slackened the speed, and
went upon deck, it is supposed, to notify
the captain, and as appeared afterwards,
returned to his post and was so badly
burned and suffocated, that he had to
be taken from his perilous position
nearly exhausted and almost insenslble
Immediately, upon the alarm, all hands
were called upon deck, and every effort
made to check the progress ofthe flames,
by the use of the pumps and by passing
water in buckets and throwing it down
iDtO the region of the flames. The en-
aines continued in motion until about
three o'clock. The wind was blowing
almost a gale at the time, and the
flames increased in spite of their efforts
until about four O'Clock, when they were
supposed to be under control. The hope
was delusion, for they soon broke out
afresh, and from that time gained so
radidly upon the almost superhuman
efforts made to extinguish them that the
captain considered that the vessel must
go. The fire had at that time burst out
OF the forward matches and was making
its way upon the forward deck when the
order was given to get the boats ready.
The Sea was running high at the time
and tho work itself was filed with the
greatest peril. The first boat lowered
according to the statements of our in-
formants, was the smaller wooden one,
into which it is supposed that the two
quartermasters and the two seamen were
ordered bp the captain, and instructed
to remain astern, and near to the vessel,
in order that others might be taken
aboard. The second boat, that Of the
engineers, was launched at nearly the
same time, over the forward rail- In
this were Donnavan, Davis, 0'Bnian,
Toby, Chas. W. Clark, I'd Asst. Engin-
eer Hamilton, Barney and Meehan. The
boat was fastened to the stern Of the
steamer by a painter. The last boat
launched was that of the captain, but as
to who entered 1t besides him, and
whether all the remaining fifteen per-
sons on board left the ship in it cannot
be stated. The sea carried the FIRST boat
which was launched swiftly past the
second, which was attached TO the
steamer, and that vsas the iast which
was seen OF IL, and its fate, the number
! of persons IN it, and what became ol
them is as yet unknown. The dark.
ness at this time was intense and the
sea running at such a height that COM
! munication between the boats was al.
| most impossible. The only voice heard
from the boat as it swept swiftly pas,
them was that OF Frank Rankin, and
the words uttered could not be dis
tineuished. The boat which had beer
fastened to the vessel, from some cause
parted the painter which fastened it anc
it In turn set adrift. Oars and bucket.
were put into each boat, but the met
generally, it is thought, did not taxi
life preservers with them from the ship
A =