Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-09-12
Another Calamity at Sea.
STEAMER BURNED AND LIVES LOST.

Capt. Jefferson Maury arrived at Havana
Saturday morning, from Nassau. n. ii.
He reports that the steamship Bienville.
which he commanded, from New York for
Aspinwall, was burned at sea on the 18th
ult. Thirty-four of the passengers and
crew are yet unaccounted for, although
some may have been picked up BY pass
ing vessel. The Bienviile left New York
on the 10th of August for Aspinwall. and
when In latitude - deg. IL min. longitude
IS deg. 10 miu.. at A. NJ. on the 18th. fire
was discovered among the cargo. Steam
and water were Immediately turned on BY
steam pipes. which AFTER a few revolutions
broke down and could not be worked.
Capt. Maury then ordered the matches
baitened, hoping thereby to smother the
fire, and at the same time fire extinguish-
ers were used between decks and steam
kept on. The fire gained however. rapidly
and at q o'clock the captain. fearing an
explosion from powder stored in the hold
II they remained ia the ship any longer
ordered the six boats launched aud the
passengers and crew began to embark.
At halt past : Capt. Maury WAS forced To
leave the ship, being the last one on board.
bnc of the boats capsiZed ailer leaving
the ship and from seven to ten of tbs in
mates including two women. we're drown
Cd.
The capsizcd boat was righted aud bail
q. out. and reached Cat Island in safety.
The other boats. except one. reached Eleu-
thera Island a distance of $50 miles from
the scene Of disaster The missing boat
has not been heard from, but 1t j. supposed
was picked up by passing vessel, a. an
empty boat was adriit near Eleuihera Isl
and with life pre>eryer in il One oi the
boats. In attempting To land al Elenthera
Island. was capszed and nine were drown
ed. Including Mrs. BrAnder and her three
children. At / 80 J.. NJ. the Bienville eN-
ploded and Immediately sunk. When the
fire was FIRST discovered Il was supposed
To b. in the iorchoid. where a large quau-
tiiV oi powder was stored. but il proved 10
DE between decks over the boilers and
among the cargo. The passengers aud
crew lost M their baggage and saved
nothing except the clothes they had on.
Capt. Maury reports that the people Of
Nassau treated tie shipwreckcd Kindly.
and ministered 10 their wants. Nicc-C on
sui saunders has cared tor the seamen.
Anna Brown. one Of the rescued. became
insane and was len AZ Eleuthera Island be-
cause she could not be found when the
party len Nassau. The steamer Alma aud
schooner Dandy were despatched hy the
American consul 20 search for the missing
boat. Out OF l21 passengers on board the
Bienvilie. thirty-iour are unaccounicd for.
including nine lost al Elcuthcra. The
bodies Of six persons were recovered and
buried nj James Point. The schooner
William McGce took thirv-iour ct the
survivors on the cath for Baltimore A
subscription was started in Nassau .or the
aid Of the sufferers.
Although twenty-five embraces the
names of all those who were fouI Il dead.
a dispatch saws that it must be remember
Cd that great many were rescued tn a
dying condition and thAt scores haye died
aud are dying from results from exposure