Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-30
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
Conaa ration ON Lake Erie.
A Bark furl of OH Consumed.

From a Cleveland (Ohio) Exchanged
Saturday afternoon, about five o'clock,
q gentleman obtained insurance on the
bark L. II. Cotton, in the following Gin
eiuneti Companies Cincinnati, $4,000;
franklin, $4,000 American, $4,000; Mer-
chants and Msnufaciurers', $4,000; Mer-
chants, $1,000; Washington, $1,000. The
/ Cotton sailed the next night, Sunday,
I from Cleveland for Liverpool. IG the
Cleveland Herald of Monday morning
We find the following account OF the loss
of the ship with her entire cargo:
The bark L. 81. Cotton, Capt. Geo. L.
De Wolf, cleared from the por5 OF Clevs-
land for Liverpool, England, and sailed
for her port of destination at twenty
minutes past five O'Clock Sunday even
ing. According to her manifest there
were on board l460 barrels Of spirits of
/ petroleum (Or Dapths) 499 barrels OF oil
of petroleum, ths value of which was
/ set down at 81 428. Besides the above
there were II 500 slaves and HOO boat
oars, OF the value of Sl6l0, the aggregate
value OF the cargo being s14. OBS, as made
out at the custOmhOuse. The spirits and
oil were shipped by Thomas Walton and
the boat oars by Z. Shaw. The whole
cargo was consigned to Messrs. Cunning
ham, Shaw d Co, Liverpool.
The crew consisted Of the Captain, two
mates, steward and six seamen. The
Captains wife was also on board, max
ing eleven persons Ia al.
About seven O'Clock an alarm of fire
was souRded. It Wss eoon ascertained
that there was q vessel on fire about
three miles from the piers. The first re-
port was that a propeller had blown up,
but it was soon discovered that it was
the bark L. Il. Cotton. These who were
aware of the nature of the cargo on
board were fearful that the lives of all
were lost. Soon an immense crowd
gathered on the bank of the lake, and
many ran down to the docks and piers.
The
SCENE FROM THE SHORE
was magnificent. The water was per-
fectIy CAIN, rejecting the burning ship
upon its surface. A light breeze inland
turned the great volume OF smoke over
the city. The lurid flames Illuminated
the lake for miles around. The light
was perceptible upon tbs fronts of hoUaes
and faces of people along the shore. The
wind, shifting from point to point, by s
O'Clock was blowing staff breeze to the
eastward, carrying the vessel before it,
and leaving a line Of burning oil upon
the SURFACE of the water behind. After
drifting while in an easterly direc ton,
the line OF oil in the wake of the weasel
was entirely consumed. At this point
the vessel came to a stand, and remained
some time, showing no signs of sinking,
seemingly very much to the dissstisfac
ton of the people who fingered on the
banks to see her go dJWn. Hundreds
waited until midnight, determined to
fight it out on that line, but the stauneh
craft was still above the water at that
hour. TIE tug w. y. Gushing and the
Bttlesir0n steamer ]. X. White fastened
to her shortly before IL O'Clock pm, and
toWed her TO point near the mouth Of
the harbor.
GAIT. DE W0LP's STATEMENT.
Capt. De Wolf states that he left port !
at twenty minutes to five O'Clock Sun |
day afternoon, In tow OF the tug w. u. |
Cushing about three quarters of an hour |
after leaving the tug, the canvas being |
set and all hands on deck cleaning up !
the vessel, sudden and terrible explo- |
sion was heard. The whole deck seemed |
70 hesVe, Barrels oaFs and slaves we're |
blown into the air with great force. The |
explosion seemed to extend the entire |
length. OF the vessel. One man was |
blown overheard. Every person on |
board was thrown into the air, some of !
them as high as twenty or thirty feet. |
The deck settled back, all out of shape. |
AS soon as the explosion took place the |
fismes burst ont, and the vessel |
wss sdon wrapped in a sheet |
OF fire. The sails and rigging
caught Immediately, and were ali burn
ing in moment almost. The small
boat was got dOwa as soon as possible,
but not q moment too soon, as the flames
were raging with great fury, and time
was hardly given to get all on board.
Mrs. DeWclT was in the cabin at the
time Of the explosion. The boat then
put out in search OF Mr.. Hearns. He
was soon found, but when the boat
reached him he was nearly exhausted. /
being badly bruised. After taking him
on board, the boat headed for the harbor.
When about half way in port they met
the tug PrinoeYllie, and were taken on
board. Capt. DeNROlf wishes US TO re-
turn his sincere thanks to the officers of
the tug for their prOmptness and kind
ness on this occasion. Capt. DeWOlf
also states that he cannot account for the
explosion. There was no light or fire in
the stove Ia the fOreeastie, and only one
light 10 the cabin. There were no lights
above deck, except such as the nAviga-
ton laws compel all vessels to carry.
Everything on board was lost. The
ships papers and the clothing Of the
officers and crew we're all destroyed by
the explosion and the ire. Some OF the
men came ashore with scarcely any
on.
NO LIVES LOST.
As remarkable and miraculous. as it
may seem, there were no lives lost.
Nearly all on board were more or less in
Iured. Mr. Hearns, who was blown
overheard, was SO badly burned that he
was taken to the Marine Hospital as soon
as he came ashore. The steward was
also burned, and had his arm severely
Injured.