New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-04

dim twinkle of occasional star shOne through the
darkness of the night When told that land was
near with the wish fathert TO the thought we assumed
that it could not be more than few miles off, and to-
ward il we were slowly steaming-about six knots
an hour-as fast as we could move with the limited
amount of steam left for the engines after keeping
the forward hold filled in tho hope of exinguishlng
the fire. But, below the assumed confidence III our
safety there was in each breast alternating intervals
of despair, and thus vacillatiOn of feeling between
hope and dependency amid darkness and peril pro-
longed minutes almost into hours. 1t seemed as IL
daylight would never come.
SUNRISE.
At last however, the suns rays Redeemed the east
ern sky but As day dawned with no land in sight,
an dsteam was issuing from the forward hatchways
and smoke was smelt in the atmosphere of the caOn
even there was for a time feeling of deep melah
choly. On the foremost the ensign with Union
down was open to the breeze signal OF dlstresS
The steamer was careenng heavily to port by reason
of the large quantity OF which had been pumped
into her forward hold and her bow head sunk fully two
feet in the water since the fire was discovered
About o'clock the low coast of Carolina was plainly
visible and in an hour and half we were but half
mile distant from it with our course again changed to
run parallel with IL TO the northeast Light hearts beat
in breasts where fort before sadness had regned
supreme.
An inspection of affairs outside showed how perfectly
everything had been arranged insure the safety Of the
passengers ana crew, in 1t became necessary to
abandon the steamer Within ten minutes after the fire
was discovered four OF the steamers boats had been
cleared lowered the lower rail- provided with the
necessary provisions and water and nautical Instruments
Each boat had been assigned to the command of par
ticular officer who had his selected in case the
emergency should arise The other two boats were in
readiness TO he cleared from the hurricane deck when the
others should leave for the shore.
From the time the matches were closed and the fun
force Of steam and turned into the forward
hold great hopes entertained of saving the steam
En- For some hours, less smoke emanated from the
Matches and it believed that the fire had not got in
between decks. But all uncertainty. Passengers
took hold with aacrity relieve the men at the pumps,
and some continued their abOTs with short intermis-
son FOR hours, working heroicaly and with full knOwl-
edge Of the fact that fiery furnace burning below
the deck which they Stood and which each hour was
becoming seusbly hotter, and il burning underneath,
might at any moment fan, under the superintendent
weight above and precpitate them into the fiery vortex.
Those who particularly distinguished themselves were
Mr.. Harvey W. Hatch of NewYork, Mr.. Henry W. Cramp
Of Philadelphia and Mr. I. II. DE Honey of Louisville.
Mr.. Hatch especially unremttng in his exertons,
and did much to keep up the spirits Of others.
THE FIRE GAINING.
About o'clock in the morning it became apparent
10 the officers that the fire which had been
seemingly held in subsection for some hours,
gaining upon them. The smoke again
increased and engine rooms, and the engineers
boodsho and so blind unable to distinguish any
object several Their suerings intense
but with marvellous herosm each man returned again
and again to his post and remained until some one OF bus
companions was able to TO his relief
At 10 o'clock it became certain that ere long the
steamer would have be the beach and scutted
only hope of saving her. At II o'clock the eng
reported that impossible for them to remain
below any longer aud the steamers course was
changed land, and in few minutes she ran head on
five from
struck in about 10 feet of with the tide near the
ebb. The sea-cocks then opened and at
once the steamer commenced filing with water. The
locality where the vessel is uninviting
narrow beach, insuar in its situation, without
tree or blade of grass upon it, and with not
sign Of human habitatOn upon the main land beyond
1t about mile above the northern mouth of Little
River, North Carolina and about IS miles below the
MOGth 90 Cape Fear River.
LANDING THE PASSENGERS.
The work Of debarkatiOn commenced at once.
Boats lowered and the passengers were landed on
the beach within Il half hour, the ladies and children
being put shore. Next spars and sails for shell
ter and additional provisions and water were carried to
the shore and until mghtal the boats continued going
to the steamer latcry brought mattresses pillows, and
blankets to add to the comfort of the passengers
From the steamer to the beach was transition from
comfort discomfort, no less than 1t was change from
danger safety. Having been sent immediately after
with the pilot Mir Davenport for relief, can only speak
Their. was not a green spot on the beach. Inc sun
beat down with an intense heat, and the hot
sand WIS blown IN clouds by the sea-DIeeze
into garments and hair. Even when the tents
were pat n.y. the annoyance OF the drifting SAND was as
,.lt .s ever 1t continued into the night and ladies
wAoIlid down 10 sleep sometimes awakened with
t, faces hands or feet, chgnons buried. Added to
- va, the annoyance Of countless crabs VINO had Deeh
startled y the invasion unheraded and unwelcome
conner. Thy moved up the beach to where the sleepers
living on expeditions OF investigation, and crawled
over faces and hands and up trOwsers-legs or skirts,
startling the ecpers from their slumber and causing
them TO spring 10 their feet get rid OF the novel vista
ton At three O'Clock in the afternoon hot coffee,
brought from the ship and bread and bacon were fur
nished to the passengers and eaten with keen zest
TIE CoNFLAGRATION.
In the afternoon il apparent to officers and men
that the re had got between decks and that all efforts
to save the steamer would prove useless But they re-
manned by the vessel until O'Clock, when the smoke was
discovered issuing through the intertce Of the forward
deck Officers and crew then took 10 the boats and went
10 shore returning, however, f1Om time to time Tor
things which could he removed until o'clock at which
time the smoke began ascend in large volumes. Later
flashes of light burst from the forward deck
Soon the flames came through and caught In the
light work the deck, and thence crcpt along
until they reached the woodwork forming the
staterooms and cabins Thence it drted mp the masts
teupted by the close reefed tOpsas the burning rag
ents of which were carried off by the night winds into
the ocean like a shower of brilliant meteors AT II
O'Clock the whole vessels deck was abaze from D0Wspt
To stern rail lighting up the heavens with lurid glare
and presenting spectacle Of awful grandeur and mag
nifcence The wire rigging became red hot and looked
like lines OF fire extending up to tie cross trees above
GIded balls which surmounted either lnast' ana
in the day time flashed with glare of the