The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-09
The Loss OF the Anda1usia.

dents. The fate of the ill-fated vessel
is peculiarly interesting to our peo-
pie, as she had on board, as freight,
valable and generous donations to
the firemen Of Columbia. The fol-
lowing is Captain Vests account Of
the disaster:
We left New York in the steamer
Andalusia, at $40 p. M, on Satur-
day, March 2, 1867, with nine cabin
passengers, crew consisting Of
thirty-eight persons, and very large
general cargo. On Saturday night
and Sunday, we had strong wind
from n. e. to n, with rain and heavy
sea. On Sunday evening, at p. H.,
| whilst we were at sea, l heard an un-
usual noise on deck, and [ LETT the
cabin to see what was the matter
| When I got on deck, the engireers
and fremen were coming out The en-
@inc room hatch, crying fire, fire,
same. l ascertained from the chief
engineer, who had just come out OF
the engine room, that the fire was
forward of the boiler The hose was
pointed down the hatch, and several
men were working the pumps, when
the flames burst out up the matches
and around the snoke-stack. This
was less than five minutes after the
fire was discovered. I then ordered
the sails clewed up, and laid abacll,
and the ship headed for the steamer
Manhattan, which was about three
miles on our port bow The officers
vered the fire the moment it burst
out, for whilst We were taking in
sails, l saw her lights coming towards
us. We were going ahead at least
seven knots. The fire and smoke had
driven every one out of the engine
room before the engine could be
stopped. [ then ordered the safety
valve lifted, which was done by the
chief engineer and his first assistant
by taking an oar and lifting the safety
valve lever. The oar was held until
it burnt in two; ana then hawsers
were towed over the side, in hopes
that they would foul the propeller.
Finding the fire could not be kept
under, 1 ordered the 1irst officer to
take charge Of the starboard after
boat; second mate starboard forward.
and purser, port after boat. l gave
them orders not to permit the boats to
be lowered until the ships headwav
was stopped The two lady passen-
| gers were taken out OF the cabin; one
l gave in charge of Mr.. Norton, the
first officer, and the other I kept with
me, with four other passengers.
In a few moments after giving
these orders, the second officer re-
turned to me and informed me that
the starboard forward boat was gone,
| {h&ying been cut adrift. After get
ting on board the steamer Manhat-
tan, we found that the boat had been
cut adrift at the time the sails were
being Glued up, by two men and 4
mess boy-only the boy was saved.
The port after boat was lowered
down bow first, before the ship was
stopped, and it WAS swamped. The
pnrscr, stcoDd assistant engineer. one
passenger and two 1iremen were
washed ont Of the boat ;.Ad lost.
The patent lowering apparatus, on
the port forward boat. broke at the
after end. which caused three passen
gers, the New York pilot and one
other person to be thrown out OF the
boat and lost overheard They were
put in the boat with lady passenger
and her son ready for lowering, when
the ships headway was stopped.
After the hip stopped, the boat was
! lowered I'M tbo 1yotnr. ho,. Now v-,c
stove in and she filled with water /
had the boat bailed out by the chief
engineer and one Of the cooks. / gave
orders to the second officer to build a
raft, which was done with the water
casks, spars and the doors of the pilot
and other houses. The raft was
launched and lay alongside OF the
Ship. The first officer lowered his
boat as soon as the ship stopped. The
lady passenger was put in the port
forward boat, with nine others, at
1870 p. m. | got in the boat and
pulled around the ship, to see if any
one was hanging to the ship. Just
before leaving the ship. l heard the
Manhattan whistle close to US.
When we got on the weather side of
the Andalusia, we saw one of the
Manhattan's boats going to the ship;
we spoke them, a I'd informed thea
there We're several on board
Finally, we pulled for the 7Ta' nat
tan; our boat being half full Of