The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-11-15
ANOTHER OCEAN DISASTER.
The steamship Missouri Burned ut Sea
Ipwnrd of seventy Lives Lost.

A Kew West letter gives the following par
ticulars of the destruction by fire OF the At
lantic Mail steamer Missouri, bound from New
York to Havana, which occurred on the
22d ult
The fire was discovered about a. M, in the
pantry, and suddenly burst out in volumes of
flame amldships spreading rapidly over the
ship. The boats were launched Immediately;
all but one were swamped at once. Those re-
naming on board were compelled, on account
OF the flames, TO jump In the sea. Those
saved landed IN one of the boats at Abaco,
about p. m. on the evening of the 22d, and
were taken from there i'll a small schooner to
Nassau. 1t was terrible sight for those in
the floating boat to see those in the water,
cinging to the swamped boats, and begging
for assistance. There were about ten ladies
on board. 1t is not known whether any of the
missing have since been picked up. 1t is said
the Captain used every effort to save the lives
of the passengers. Three Of the saved pas
sengers are now here. The origin of the fire
is unknown.
Two of the boats of the Inflated Missouri
were burned alongside the vessel, and there is
no probability that any of the others reached
the shore. 1t is probable that not a single
life would have been saved had it not been for
James Gunner, a resident OF Eleuthera, and
passenger on board. A new boat had been
purchased in New York and placed on deck,
but az the weather had been boisterous, she
checks. When it was known that the vessel
would be destroyed, Gunner, with few
others, launched this boat, holding fast TO the
painter, when he jumped overheard and swan
to the boat. Eleven others followed him. and
even then if il had not been for Gunner, who
was acquainted with the management of boat,
and poted her safely through the surfs, she
would have been lost with the others.
1t Is SAID the fire was first discovered on
the floor Of the locker in the pantry, and the
cry of fire was Immediately given. Wet car
| pets were 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 break
| fast. but on receiving the stewards report
| that the fire had been eXtingushed, breakfast
was resumed and the fears of the passengers
| quoted. Within ten Minutes. however, sew
| eral voices screamed " fire. from the stoke
| hole All was then confusion. Within TWEEN
| " minutes 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
| large one. Neither we're there anv sails or
| anything to make them of. 1t was from 8
| o'clock III the morning of the 22d until
o'clock in the afternoon of the ODD before as
| sistance 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 or Elbow Key.
Wnefe they arrived ABOUT u. IN. on the I'D
or the oath.
1t Is said that the donkey pumps Of the
steamer were never started, one of the pas
sengers asserting that he had hold of the hose
at the same time, and tina. no water was
forced through it on the flames from the
donkey. Two deck pumps were worked a few
minutes only ; within fifteen minutes after
the alarm was given the twelve survivors
were in the boat, and the flames were coming
from the stoke hole in volume. The ships
course was never altered, and consequently
the flames were carried athwart ships, burn
ing up one lifeboat Oh the lee side, and maxi
ing ii too hot to get others off.
Only three boats were launched, two of
which were swamped. II is said that seven
females and seven children were aboard the
Missouri, none of whom got into the boats.
The scene presented was heaIt-rendng.
The MIssouri's engines were stopped. but her
sails being left spread, a speed of four knots
an hour was maintained When last seen
Capt. Greene WAS working with Purser
Hampstead and some of the crew trying to
get of a lee boat, surrounded by smoke and
flame. Eleven of the survivors saw that boat
was never launched, but the twelfth, Can't.
Culmer says it was launched full Of people.
but was Immediately swamped.
THERE are one thousand four hundred