The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-22

DEATH OF CAPTAIN CHICHESTER, OF TIE ILL
rArED STEAMSHIP TENNESSEE. Three short
weeks ego last evening, the stately iron steam
ship Tennessee; under the command OF him
whose name heads this article, cast of her
lines and steamed down the bay, on her return
voyage to- New York., Itwas calm summer
evening, and the soft southern breeze scarce
stirred the waters Of our beautiful bay as she
made her way to sea. Hundreds, as usual, had
crowded the plerto say farewell to the hum
dred of kindred and friends who were aboard,
and as the noble vessel passed out Of sight,
many out-speken praises Of captain and ship
came nom all who had enjoyed the enlivening
scene.
I Alas for the falrest Of hopes That happy
hundred had retired to rest, with bright ex-
pectations o. safe and pleasant voyage,
when, on tho very threshold Of the journey,
the cargo Is discovered to be on fire. 1t Is not
our purpose1o repeat the brave story, 80 well
told before, and less is 1t desired to indulge in
fulsome eulogy OF the Tennessee's heroic COM
mander, who was called from bis point OF OBJ
servatlon, at the wheel, to deal with this terri.
BILE and -perplexing situation. But Captain
Chichester taught the world lesson of calm
courage and Of patient endurance that June
morning which may well be repeated, and,
again fepeaieds Developing the means at his
command for the suppression Of the flames,
she has in few minutes six streams of water
directed below" He "awakens the pas
sengers, and, by his calm manner and
manly bearing, impresses all with his
own methoti Of deliberatlon.n The discipline
on board, from forecastle to engine-room,
is maintained throughout by the force of his
single example during the tedious hours in
which the fared steamer is making for shore;
the remarkable condition is exhibited of one
hundred men, women and children presery-
sIn2 order with fiery furnace under their very
IfsSt. While engineers and fremen stood at
fsMir posts Of duty until their whiskers were
hhGning and the officers Of the deck were per-
s4ecting the means of lowering the half dozen
life-boats in case Of sudden need, passengers
were adjusting life preservers before the cabin
mirrors at their leisure, and when the shore Is
reached the same quiet manner prevails, and
the unheard of feat Is successfully accomplished
oflapding an entire ships company, with four
score Of passengers Of all ages and sexes, with
out even, as we learn, wetting their feet.
. The same high sense Of duty which secured
these splendid results kept this quiet, unosten-
tations commander by the wreck until relieved
by the underwriters agents The sequel is as
sad as brief The severe ordeal through which
he had passed had made him, in the language
Of on 1e OF his officers, ''a gray old man in o
night = and sickness fell upon him after his
retuf IN home, which has ended in his untlmely
death. After years OF toll, he had just been
rewdr drded BY aspendid command, and all his
future was bright: Alas the wires tell US Of
his Heath yesterday morning. He leaves a
widd w.. but NO children, and large aud ap-
precfative circisaos attends in Charleston, Vii.
mington anil NeR sXork.