Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-01
HORRORS OF THE SEA.
The Burning of the Steamer Missouri
The Sad Details,


particulars of the burning of the steamship
Missouri have been obtained from the sur
vivors who arrived here. When the boat
which was saved left the burning
snip, one boat was seen with its keel up
ward which had two men on it. The res
cued boat lay for two hours by sWamPed
boat containing nine men, including the en-
gineers, fremen and the ships barber. A
buckles was given to the inmates of the
swamped boat to bail with, there being two
in the rescued boat. As there were no sea
men in the swsmped boat, they were una
bic to properly manage it, and in this con-
dition they were left. 1t is not likely that
any of them were saved. No sails had
been seen for two days previous TO the fire.
On that day the Missouri was in company
with ship from 9:l A. NJ. until 3 P. NJ,
when she was lost sight of. For 40 min
utes after the rescued left the Missouri,
they saw the passengers and crew, who re-
mainedon board crowded on the after part
Of the vessel. 1t is said
The Fire
was first discovered on the floor of the
locker in the pantry, and the cry OF ire
was Immediately given. Wet carpets were
at once put on the fire by the pantrymen
and others, and the steward reported to
! the passengers that the fire was out. The
alarm was given while the passengers were
at breakfast, but On receiving the stewards
report that the fire had been extinguished
| breakfast was resumed and the fears of
| the passengers quoted. Within two min
utes, however, several of the crew
screamed Sire" from the stoke hole. Ali
| was then
Confusion.
Within twenty minutes the three boats
were launched. In the rescued boat, with
! the exception Of few pieces Of sugar cane,
! there was neither food nor water, and only
| two small oars and a large one. Neither
were there any sails or anything to make
them of. It was from 8 O'Clock on the
morning of the 22d, until 2 O'Clock on the
! afternoon of the 23d, before assistance was
obtained. At that time the schooner Spy
was sighted, and the rescued party pulled
vigorously to her. The Spy took the sur
| vivors to HopetOWn, of Elbow Key, where
they arrived about O'Clock on the after
/ noon of the sd. On the 24th q schooner
was sent towards the burning ship with
charts aud full directions where TO find her,
and with Instructions TO look for the ship 8
boats and TO skirt the coast. The schooner
returned about midnight on the oath, and
repoi ted having seen nothing of the boats
or passengers. The sea was then breaking
heavily on the reefs. The party left Hope
Uown on the 18th, and arrived at Nassau on
the 2Sth.
1t is said that the donkey pumps of the
steamer
Were never Started,
one of the passengers asserting that he had
hold of the hose some time, and that nc
water was forced through it on the flames
from the donkey. Two deck pumps wei
worked few minutes only. Within fifteen
minutes after the alarm Of fire was given
the twelve survivors were in the boat, aud
the flames were coming from the stoke hole
in a volume. The ships course was never
altered, and consequently the flames were
carried athwartsmps, burning up one o.
the life boats on the lee side and making il
too hot to get the others off. Only three
boats were launched, two Of which were
swamped. 1t is said seven women anC
seven children were aboard sAe Missouri
none of whom got into the boats. The
scene presented was
Heart-rending.
The Missouri's engines were stopped, but
her sails were left spread, and the speed OF
four knots was maintained. When last
seen Capt. Green was working with Pursel
Hampstead and some of the crew trying
to get off the lee boat, surrounded by
smoke and fame. Eleven of the survivors
say that the boat was never launched, but
the twelfth, Captain Gunner, says it was
launched, full of people, but was immedi
ately swamped.
Charged by Uncle Sam for Doing g
work Of Charity.
The only expense incurred in this par
by the little English steamer Anna belong
ing to the Atlantic Mail Steamship Com
pany which brought the survivors of The
III fated steamship Missouri from Nassau
was forced upon by Der by the United
States custom officers who even charged
her with tonnage due for twelve months in
advance. Every one else with whom tht
Anna had business worked willingly AM