The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
LOSS OF THE TENNESSEE.
Particulars of the Bsraing Of the ChRrIeston
and New York Steamer Tennessee Near
Cape Fear-Passenscrs and Grow all Safe
Their Arrival i'm WiininStSn-The ysssel
burned to the Waters Edge-Carg0 q

Their Arrival In Wiiminsten-The Vessel
Burned to the Waters Edgs-CsrgO =
Total Loss.
lfrom the Wilmington IN. c. papers, July IL
Our community was startled yesterday morning
by the Information that the new steamship Tonnes.
Sec OF the Clyde ste amers, plying between Charles
ton ana New York, mad been destroyed by fire on
the beach. some thirty niles below Cape Fear. With
the rumor was coupled the statement that the
United states revenue cutter w. ii. Seward had
gone TO the assistance OF tho steamer and
would probably return during the afternoon. The
Seward reached here about ha!f.past four O'Clock
Srn9iag WIN her cargo OF human freight, VINO
had fortunately escaped with their lives, but with
the loss or all OF their baggage.
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE LOSS.
The Tennessee left Charleston for New York. at
about SIX O'Clock Tuesday evening last, with 773
bales cotton 490 barrels rosn $50 boxes vegetables
p sna pota1oes ana some otneL MINOR articles
were ladies'. About one O'Clock on Wednesday
morning smoke was discovered issuing from the
forward hold, where quantity OF pressed cotton
was slowed. The steamer was at this time about
forty miles east northeast or Cape Roman, and be-
tween twenty-five and thirty miles from the shore.
A. soon as the discovery was made the steam pumps
were set TO work and In a few minutes n hand pump
was put IN motion also and six streams OF water
ana steam Jets from the boiler Were turned into
the Mold where the burning cotton was STU
ated. But within twenty minutes the fire
nad gained so much headway that the
flames burst through the lower hatca and the vessel
was III Imminent danger OF destruction. Intellectual
the EFFICIENCY the sails were unbent from the spars
ana, after being wet, were put over the open hatch
below ana the upper hatcnway was put down.
with the hold shut or from the air and SIX streams
OF water and u constant volume OF steam thrown
into tue hold the prospect seemed good for obtain
Ing mastery OF the flames. The few passengers In
the forward state rooms were awakened by the
noise created. These prudently kept quiet until the
names burst through the lower hatch Then The
mainder were quietly awakened, ana, after furnish
ing themselves with liiepreservers patiently,
though with some alarm awaited the result. In
the meantime the SIX boats OF the steamer
were cleared and everything was put in
readiness for the passengers and crew to leave
the vessel II il should become necessary For some
time the hot steam passed from the lower hold
through the waer-lght bulkhead into the boiler and
engine rooms, aud though the engineers nearly
suuocaed they remained at their posts ana kept the
engines IN motion. An hour subsequently, when the
flames had been somewhat checked. they could at
tend to their duties with ess discom ort. When the
IRE was discovered the co urse OF the steamer was
changed To MOI tn northwest, and at about SIX O'Clock
In The morning she neared the shore and thence
steamed up the coast ut distance OF a third of
mIe. Bun her speed was materially slackened by
reason Of the large amount Of steam which was
used TO keep The IRE in check large volume OF
water had oeen poured into the hold causing The
bow 10 lower Scme two feet In the sea. AS day
dawned many OF the gentlemen passengers voiun-
teered tteir assistance IN working the hand pumps
ana rendered valuable service.
From outward appearances about nine O'Clock A.
NJ, the IRE was again getting the asccndancy. Ihe
not steam was once more coming through into tho
Doher and engine rooms making 1t dricult for the
engineers TO breathe and nearly binding them with
the intense heat. Later fears were entertained that
the names nad got between decks, and with these
Indications II was deemed important 10 put the pas
sengcrs ashore, where their lives, least were safe
AT eleven O'Clock, when The steamer had arrived "a
short distance above Little river aud thirty miles
south or Cape Fear, she was run head on 10 the
Deach ana az once scuttel as the ony nope OF say
Ing her. she grounded In ten feet of wafer with
the tide very near the close OF the ebo.
Four boats We're then manned and the passengers
were taken TO the beach, where subsequently, tent
was improvissd from san 10 afford shelter from the
heat ana rain.
Az twelve O'Clock NJ. Mr.. Undcrhill ana the pilot
OF the steamer, Mr.. Davenport, left In small boat
to look Tor assistance. They came up the snore a
distance OF tnrty.two miles, to Smilllyle, which
place they reached at eight T.. NJ. They there found
the revenue cutt.r W. Ii. Seward, ana Captain
Usher hearing OF the particulars promptly got no
steam and al Twelve O'Clock at night started the
burning steamer which they reached al daylight yes
terday morning. They found nothing ltit OF her but
the nun, from The smouidellng wood WORK OF when
proceeded an immense volume or smoke The pas
sengerS were ali on the shore ana as comfortable a.
circumstances would permit after having passed the
night on barren sand Teach. From tncm Mr.. Tn.
deriil learned tllat after the pilot and himself had
LEFT for as stance, az In the evening the smoke
began to lssuc tnrouah the upper deck and the
vessel was abanloned. Captain Chichester ana
his crew having worked nobly until then IN tn en-
deavor 10 secure Canvass and spars lor tents ana
bedding aud provisions. II was Impossible TO save
the baggage OF the passengers, which win some
slight exceptions, was Il destroyed AT nine O'Clock
The names bnfst from the forward upper deck, and
at eleven the entire length Of the vessel mass
deur.
BY eight O'clock yesterday morning the passengers
ana crew, win the exception OF captain Chichester
the chief engineer anu the steward, had all been
safely transferred to the Seward throuE IN q heavy
surf, when the cutter steamed OF and brought then,
all safely To this ely yesterday afternoon. The oiri-
GERS spoken OF above remained on the beach and
WI, WI be Drought mere today on steam tug, which
LETT yesterday morning FOR the wreck.
The origin OF he IRE IS as yet unknown, the first
ind cations OF Ii having Deen discovered about md
nlgiit OF tuesday, Nhen about seyentylye miles out
from charleston, Tue steamer was fine new boat,
having been built about one year ago. She was
sidcwhee steamer ana was intended FOR the United
States Navy but was afterwards sold to the proprie.
tors OF the Clyde line, they intending TO place her on
the route between New York anu Wilmington. She
was afterwards, however, placed on the New York
and South Carolina steamship line between New
York and Charleston. Captain Chichester her com
inander. was formerly on the Rebecca. Clyde, be.
tween this port and New York, and has always
ranked rs one OF the most eiul and efficient mas.
tiers In tue merchant marine. The passengers are
all unanimous In Their expressions toward him.
ayerng that mortal man could not have done moro
under the circumstances than did he And he was
ably seconded by all of his officers and crew.
The crew arc now in this city and Will be properly
cared for Very nearly all OF the passengers Jeff last
ght, all ofthese, with some two or three exceptions
continuing overland to New YORK. The others win re.
turn to Charleston. We know OF no Instance or
actual destltucon among either passengers or crews
but, should such be the case, Mayor hiariln has
authorized US TO say that al application for relief
WIN be promptly responded to By him on behalf OF
On board Of the Seward yesterday. on the way TO
this CITY, meeting OF the passengers was held, at
which Mr.. D. f. Flemming, OF Charleston, was called
to the chair, and MAJOR H. y. LORD was elected Sec
rotary.
MIR. E. r. Underhi offered the following preamble
and resoluil0ns:--
Whereas the passengers the Tennessee of the
New York and Charleston steamship line have rescued
from destruction by OF the fearful calmtles
can happen-a nre at sca-and
Whereas s just that there should be public
Of gratitude those ~hose exerons this destruction OF
human life has been avertcd; therefore, ne ii
Resolved bythe passengers OF this steamer in
meeting assembled that lasting gratitude Ii due the
officers and of that vessel by whose heroic Efforts
under the guidance Of Divine Proydence the flames we're
kept In su5Jecon for ten hours the steamer
brought near the shore for the safe landing
by the steamers boats.
Resolved, That while may invidous make special
mention OF individuals where All seemed animated by COM
sentiment of devotion to .hc safety OF
and vessel, yet We cannot foreso the pleasure
Of commanding especially the conduct OF Captain
Chichester, Chief Nate Beckett, Second Mate Col
Inns, Steward Booth, Purscr Jackson, Chief Engineer
Hand, Assistant Engineers Harris and Kane, Specie
and Riley, for their and inrepdity Ia the midst
impending peril and the saaacy ana prudence they exhi.
bed In the organization distribution OF their
the safety Of the lives Of those who had been
their charge To Captain Chichester especially Tor
his able seananship and cool determination the
OF the discovery Of the danger until the
were safely landed cannot speak In terms high
praise