Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-11-01
Burning Of the Steamship Missouri.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE DrsAsrE

FULL PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.
KEY WEST, Oct 3l.--The following particulars |
OF the burning of the steamship Missouri have |
been obtained from the survivors who have arrived
here: |
When the boat which was saved left the burn
ing ship one boat was seen with its keel upwards,
which had two men on it, The rescued BOAT lay
for two hours by the swampei boat. containing
nine men, including engineers. fireInen and the
ships barber. A bucket was given the inmates of
the swamped boat to bail with. there being two in
the rescued boat. As there were no seamen in the
swamped boat. they were unable to manage it,
and in this condition they were left
1t is not likely any of thel. were saved. No
sail had been seen for two days previous to the
fire. On that day tho Missouri was in compauy
| with ship from OILS A. NJ. until z. NJ, when
she was iost sight Of For forty minutes after the
rescued lett the Missouri they saw passengers and
crew, who remained OH board, crowded OH the af-
ter part OF the vessel. 1t is said the fire was first
discovered OIL the oor of the ocker in the pantry
ansethe cry Of "hre" was Immediately given, wet
carpets were immediately put on the fire by the
pantrymen and others, and tho steward reported
to the passengers that the fire was out.
The schooner returned about midnight on the
24th, and reported nothing had been seen OF boats
or passengers. The was then breaking
havily on the reef The party left Hopetown at
10 o'clock on the 18th inst, and arrived at Mas.
sau at 2.30 p. N. on the 2Sth
TIE STEAMERS PUMPS
1t IL said the donkey pumps of the steamer
were never started, one OF the passengers assert
ing that he had hold OF the hose some time, and
that no water was forced through it from the
donkey. Two deck pumps were worked few
minutes only.
Within fifteen minutes after the alarm Of FIRE
was given. the twelve survivors were in the boat
and the flames were coming from the stoke hole
IN volumes The ships course never altered, and
, consequently the flames were carried athwart
ship. burning up one ife-boat on the leo side ane
making it to hot to get others Of. Only thre,
boats were launched, two OF which were
. swamped.
THE ALARM.
was given while the passengers were at break
iast, put on receiving the Stewards repor
that the fire had been extingushsd, break
fast was resumed and the fears of the passen
+ gers quieted. Within two minutes, however
A several voices screamed Fire. from tn
stoke hole. All was then confusion
:, Within twenty minutes three boats wer
II launched. In the rescued boat, with the e1
ception of a few pieces OF sugar cane ther
was
% NEITHER FOOD NOR WATER,
n and only two small oars and large one.-
Ne!ther were there any sails, or anything
y make them Of. 1t was from O'Clock in ii
r morning Of the ed until2 Pm Of the %
70 before assistance was obtained. At tn,
- time the Schooner Spy was sighted, and tn
10 the rescued party pulled vigorously tOwaId
s. her. The Spy took the survivors to Hop
:. town. on Elbow Key, where they arrive
sc about Pm on the SD.
IN On the s4th schooner was sent towards
I'D THE BURNING SHIP
Ie, with charts, and full directions where to 6l
-. her, and instructions to look for the shiI
sc boats and skirt the coast.
rO The WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
e. 1t is said seven females and seven children vi
h., aboard the Missouri, none OF whom got into
y! boats. The scene presented was heart-rending