Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-08
THE LATEST OCEAN HORROR.
the Ocean - ProvidcntiaI Escape
from Death Of the Passengers and
Crew.


A steamer burning and Floating ON
the Ocean ProvidcntiaI Escape
from Death Of the Passengers and
Crew.
From the New York Sun. 4th.l
The steamship Tennessee, Captain
Chichester, one of the line steamers be-
longing to the New York and South Caro-
lima Steamship Company, left Charleston
on Tuesday, June %, at $3.50 pm, her
regular day of sailing bound for this city,
with los souls on board, of whom fifty
one adults and nine children were cabin
passengers. The crew consisted of forty
men, including officers. All worked
smoothly and the steamer made good
Roadway until | 80 am. next morning,
when the alarm of fire was given to
the officers, who Immediately aiterward
sent men around to the state-rooms and
quietly awakened the passengers without
creating unnecessary confusion The
whole thing was managed most admirab-
ly, proving that excellent discipline was
maintained on board.
The passengers tumbled out precipi-
lately, snatched up their clothing,
dressed themselves, some partly and
others wholly, and rushed into the cabin;
but finding everything quiet, and seeing
no fire. after hurried questionings and
quiet and firm replies by an officer, who
told them that the fire was discovered in
the forward hold among some cotton,
which formed part of the cargo, and that
they hoped to putt out, and that at any
rate there was no danger to be appre-
hended by them if they would preserve
order. These sensible remarks Gained
them, and they settled down to await the
result. All the matches were kept closed,
and three streams of water were
KEPT PLAYING UPON THE FIRE,
two worked by the doctor Ia small
engine independent of the main engine)
and pump worked by hand. a
At the time the fire was discovered the
ship was about sixty miles from the main
land and forty miles off Cape Romano
ON the South Carolina coast, nearly OPP
pcsite Georgetown, toward which the
Tennessee was at once headed Water
was poured in upon the burning baled
cotton, themost difficult of all burning
material to extinguish. The crew and
passengers worked faithfully at the
pumps until they arrived near the shore.
The fire having been greatly subdued,
Captain Chichester gave the orders to
head her for Smithville, which is at the
mouth of the Cape Fear river, n. O., but
the heat from the fire was so great that
the fremen refused to work. n
The engineers themselves coaled up for
two hours longer, manfully and energeti-
cally attending to both duties. They
we're then obliged to desist, as the heat
was insupportable, and the steamer was
run on Balls Beach island, two miles off
the coast of North Carolina, and thirty
five miles from Smithville The island
is six miles long and one and half miles
wide, with not tree or shrub growing
upon it. The coast is equally bare and
desolate. The passengers were landed
on this sandy desert about i o clock, and
preparations made for their comfort
The boats were kept going bringing pro-
visions, as many as could be obtained. |
Carpets from the main cabin were torn
up and carried ashore and stretched on
the sand for the accommodation of the
ladies. Tarpaulins were stretched on
poles. sufficient to make two tents-one
for the ladies and children, of whom there
were twenty-five or thirty, and the other
for the men, as many as could find room
under il,
The passengers and crew were brought
to Wilmington, d. c., by the revenue cut
ter VIM. H. Seward,