Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-11-07
KEY WEST. Oct. 81.

The following particulars of the burn
ing of the steamship Missouri have been
obtained from survivors, who have ar
rived here. When the boat, which was
saved, left the burning ship, one boat
was seen with its keel upward, which
had two men in it. The rescued boat
lay for two hours by swamped boat
containing nine men, including the en-
gineers. firemen and the ships barber
A bucket was given to the inmates Of
the swamped boat to bail with, there
being two in the rescued boat. AS there
were no scamcn in the swamped boat,
they were unable to properly manage 1t
and in this condition, they were left. 1t
is not likely any of them were saved.
No sails had been seen for two days pre-
viOus to the fire On that day the Mis-
souri, was in company with ship from
9:15 a. M until p. m when she was
lost sight of Forty minutes after the
rescued boat left the Missouri they saw
the passengers and crew, who remained
on 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 fire was i'm
mediately given. Wet carpets were put
on the fire by the pantry men and others
aud the stewards reported to the passen-
gers 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 eXtnguish-
ed. breakfast was resumed and the fears
of the passengers quoted. Within two
minutes, however, several voices scream
ed fire. and all was then confusion.
Within twenty minutes the boats were
| launched.
In the rescued boat, with the eXCep-
ton of few pieces of sugar cane, there
was neither food or water, and only two
small oars and large one; neither were
there any sails or anything to make
them of. 1t was from o'clock m. Of
the 22d until in 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 survivors to
Hopetown, on Elbow Key, where they
arrived about 7 p. m. of the 23d. On
the gath a schooner was sent toward the
burning ship with charts and full direc-
tiOns where to find her, and with in
structions to look for the ships boats and
skirt the coast. The schooner returned
about midnight on the gath and reported
having seen nothing of the boats or pas
sengers. The sea was then breaking
heavily in the reefs The party left
| HOpetown at ten o'clock the 25th, anG
arrived at Nassau at $50 p. M, on the
29th. 1t is said that the donkey pumps
of the steamer never started one of the
passengers asserting that he had hold OF
the hose sometime and that no water
was forced through it, on the flames.
The two deck pumps were worked for {
few minutes only.
Within fifteen minutes after the alarm
of fire was given, the twelve survivors
were in the boat, and the flames coming
from the stoke hole in volume. Th'
ships course was never altered, and con
sequently the flames were carried
athwartships, burning up one life boa
on her side, and making it too hot t.
get others off. Only three boats wer
launched, two of which were swamped
1t is said that seven females and sever
children were aboard the Missouri, nom
of whom got into the boats. The seem
was heartrending. Not over twent,
minutes elapsed after the fire was dis
covered before three boats were launched
The Missouri's engines were stopped
but her sails left spread, and speed o
four knots was maintained When las
seen, Captain Green was working, will
purser Hampstead and some of the crew
trying to get,off the lee boat, surrounds