The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-02
Disaster at sca-Loss by Firo OF tho
Steamshlp Tenncssee-Passenger and

Disaster at 6ea-Loss by Flro OF tho
steamship Tenncssee-Passenge and
Grew ali safeGUaTgo o TOTAL Loss.
Our community was startled Yesterday
morning, by the infortnationi that the
new steamship Tennessee. of fsthe Clyde
Steamers, plying between Charleston
and New York, had been destroyed by
fire, on the beach, some thirty miles be-
low Cape Fear. The Tennessee left
Charleston for New York, at about 6
o'clock Tuesday evening last, with 773
bales cotton, 490 barrels rosin, $50 boxes
vegetables, SIT barrels potutoes, and
some other minor articles, aud some fif.
ty-threo passengers, eighteen of whom
were ladies. About o'clock Oh Wednes-
day morning, smoke was discovered issu-
ing from the forward hold, where guam
tity of pressed cotton was slowed The
steamer was, OF this tiWe, about forty
miles East-North- east of Cape Roman,
aud between twenty five and thirty miles
from the shore. AS soon as the discovery
was made, the steam pumps were set to
work and in q few minutes hand pump
was put in motion, also, and six streams
of water and steam jets from the boiler
were turned into the hold where the
burning cotton was situated. But within
twenty minutes, the fire had gained so
much head-way that the flames burst
through the lower hatch and the vessel
was In imminent danger of destruction
Intellectual efforts were made to put down
the matches, and, in the exigency, the
sails were unbent from tho spars, and
after being wet, were put over the open
hatch below, and the upper hatch way
was put down. With the hold shut off
from the Dir and six streams of water and
q constant volume of steam thrown into
it, the prospect seemed good for obtain
ing mastery of the flames. The few
passengers in the forward stato-rooms
were awakened by tho noise created.
These prudently kept quiet until the
flames burst through the lower hatch.
Then the remainder were quietly awaken
ed, and after furnishing themselves with
life-prcservcrs, patiently, though with
some alarm, awaited the result. In Tie
meantime, the six boats of the steamer
we're cleared and everything was put in
readiness for the passengers and crew to
leave the vessel, if it should become ne
cessary. For some time, the hot steam
passed from tho lower hold through the
watcr-tight bulkhead into the boiler and
ongine-roorns, and though the engineers
were nearly suffocated, they remained ut
their posts and kept tho engines in mo-
ton. An hour subsequently,, when the
flames had bcon somewhat checked, they
could attend to their duties with less dis
comfort.
When the fire was discovered, the
course of tho steamer was changed to
| North north west, and ut about 6 o'clock
in the morning she neared tho shore and
thence steamed up the coast mt distance
| &c ,rl 49, I, Il
materially slackened by reason of the
to keep tho fire in check. a large volume
of water had been poured into the hold,
causing the bow to lower some two feet
in the sea. AS day dawncd many of the
gentlemen passengers volunteered tllcil
assistance i'll working tho hand-pumps,
and rendered valuable service. From
outward appearances, about 9 o'clock n.
M, the fire was again getting the asccn.
dancy. The hot steam was once more
coming through into the boiler aud en-
gine rooms, making it difficult for the
engineers to breathe, and nearly blind
ing them with the intense heat. Later,
fears were entertained that the flames
had got between decks, and with these
Indications it was deemed important to
put the passengers ashore, where theil
lives, Mt least were safe. At ii o'clock,
when the steamer had arrived II short
distance above Little River, and thirty
miles South of Cape Fear, she was run
head on to the beach, and at once scut-
tied, as the only hope of saving her.
She grounded in ten feet of water, with
the tide very near tho close of tho cbb.
| -Four boats were then manned and the
passengers were taken to tho beach,
where, subsequently tent was impro.
viscl from n sail to afford shelter from
the hcot and rain.
AT IL o'clock m., Mr.. Underhill and
| tho pilot of the steamer, Mr.. Davenport,
| left in q small boat to look for assistance.
They came up the shore, distance OF
thirty-two miles, to Smithville, which
place they reached ut p. m. They there
found the revenue cutter w H. Seward,
and Capt. Usher, hearing of the particu-
lars, promptly got up steam and, at IL
o'clock at night, started for tho burn
ing steamer, which they reached at day
light yesterday morning. They found
| nothing left of her but tho hull, from
| the smOulderinp woOd-work of which