The Portland daily press., 1867-12-31
Burning of the Steamer Raleigh mt Sea

The burning of the side-wheel steamer Raj
eigh, week ago to-day, on her voyage from
New York to New Orleans is thus described:
About midday on Tuesday, when the Raj
eigh was about twenty miles southeast of tire
Charleston igbt-ship the passengers and crew
were awakened from their fancied security.
and the cry arose that the ship was ON fire.
and when the alarm was given and IL was
made known that fire had broken ont around
the forward end of the boiler, there was n
panic among the passengers. Men and NO.
men ran hurriedly to and fro, shrieking for de-
hverance and crying to Heaven for aid. This
did not last long. Captain Marshman, a man
of great GOODNESS, soon restored order and the
snip was at once put before the wind, to
throw the fire forward. Nor was any mea-
sure neglected that looked to the safety of
those aboard. Life preservers were distribute
Cd and the boats were held in readiness, Cap
tam Marshman himself experimenting every
step that was taken. but the ire-fend was
not to be cheated of his prey. The flames
spread with amazing rapidity, and within five
minutes time of the first appearance of the
the flames they had extended themselves from
the forward hatch to the smoking saloon.
Again fearful excitement seized upon the
passengers; and now it could not be quelled,
even by the thorough self-possession and tried
skill of the captain. There was no hope of
saving the ship; there was some hope OF saving
ONCIy uCu WdS Vic uIucT given W lOWOT
the boats. .f -.iJ aV f1 t9h
The first boat lowered was the ships boat
No. 4. A German was the first man that
jumped in, but as he did not understand the
patent lowering apparatus, some precious mo-
ments were lost. Finally the boat was lower
ed, and ten persons got safely in. Only mod
crate sea was running, and there was chance
for the lives of these ten persons; but the rap
id motion of the vessel and the swelling waves
upset the boat in an instant, and the whole of
-. IL. L
The persons who were in this boat are
supposed to be lost, although nothing certain
is known Of their fate
Boat No. 1 was then taken in charge by Pur-
ser McMannus, who succeeded in lowering
safely. 1t was, however, dangerous and diff
ficult task, and owing to the ships Roadway,
it was only accomplished at great and terrible
risk. In this boat there were thirteen persons,
but as there was some danger of the boat
swapping, three of the number were transfer
red to another boat as soon as it was fallen in
with The ten persons left in boat No. / have
arrived in safety at this port @
The cause OF the fire is unknown, but it is
supposed that it originated in the over-heating
of the boiler, and the consequent ignition of
the wooden bulkheads. The Rail- Ugh had
aboard moderate freight of general merchan-
disc, and, as several explosions were heard af-
ter the ship had been burning for some time, it
is surmised that explosive compounds formed
a part of her cargo. ...t --t
many incidents OF tragic grOteSqueneSS took
place on the burning ship, and one OF these
will point moral if it will not adorn tale.-
A lady named Bryant from Mobile, about fifty
years of age, fell overheard during the rush for
the boats. She had on life preserver, which
who'll have kept her afloat but around her
waist she had belted large sum in specie,
and this additional weight carried the unfortu.
nate woman like lead to the bottom. -
When Purser McMannus was ready to leave
the ship with his boat, he jumped overheard
having previously instructed his wife to do
the same. When he had made the leap he
called out to his wife to jump off, which she
did without hesitation. Unfortunately, how
ever, some portion of her dress caught in the
gangway, and she hung suspended for some
minutes, being alternately plunged in the wa
ter and tossed in the air, as the vessel rolled
from starboard to port. Captain Marshman
who was watching the scene with acute inter-
est, shouted out to the Purser, I" For Gods
sake save her." Help was obtained Mrs. Nc
Mannus was enabled to let herself down into
the sea, and was safely put aboard the boat.
Captain G. L. Marshman the commander of
the Raleigh, had been a shipmaster for over
twenty years and no man on the coast bore
higher reputation for seamanship aud thor
ough knowledge of his profession. He was
about fifty years of age, but still in the prime
of his health, strength and ability. When last
seen he was near the wheelhouse of the Raj
eigh, apparently attending to the wants of
some OF those who were still on the vessel
Whatever his fate, it may be said of him that,
like true sailor, he stuck to his ship to the
last.