The New York herald., 1872-10-11


steamship America, by which that vessel, with very
mar human lives and a considerable amount OF
treasure, was lost. The HERALD writer supplies,
also, kstatement OF the Official inquiry which has
been already made-another is probable-wIth the
view Of ascertaining the true cause OF the calamity
Burning or the Pacific Mail Steamship
Amorica.
YOKOHAMA, Sept. s, 1872.
The Pacific mail steamship America, Captain
Doane, arrived in port on the morning OF August "a
after pleasant voyage Of 90 days across the Pacific
ocean. Her passengers and cargo for Yokohama
were all landed that day, and during the afternoon
Q few packages OF cargo were taken In from this
place for Hong Kong
FIRE IN THE NIGHT AND THE SHIP WRAPPED IN
FLAMES.
At eleven O'Clock r. M. nearly all hands had re-
tired to rest, as all the officers had been up the
whole OF the previous night, preparing TO enter
port. The Captain and first officer had gone their
usual rounds and found everything all right.
few minutes past eleven, when the whole ship was
hushed and quiet-nobody being around but the
watchmen, the stewardess and the captain OF the
lighters-smoke was seen 10 issue from the side
lights OF the ship and nom the saloon, and immedi.
ately the terrible cry OF "Fire" rang through the
ship.
All hands made the best OF their way to where
the fire was said to be.
II was certainly below the main saloon. The first
people to get to the steerage appear TO have been
the Arst officer Miller, and q quartcrmaster
named Wilson. On the starboard side OF the upper
steerage some twenty bales of hay had been
slowed and these were found TO be on fire. Al
though the smoke was very dense-as burning hay
makes rapid and suriocating smoke-an these
first witnesses OF the 1re are OF mind that the
fire covered but a small space. two bales alone
being apparently then on fire.
AFLoAT But No WATER
The hose was Immediately stretched and the noz-
kle pointed at the flames, when horror there was
no water. BY this time the Captain and several
others had reached the scene while their enemy
the fire. was progressing with fearful rapIdity.
"Water, for Gods sake" shouted everybody. In
about five minutes, to the JOY of everybody, water
came; but alas, only to mock their efforts, for
feeble stream played for about three minutes ana
then ceased. rhe truth then for the first time
seemed to dawn upon those who were endeayorng
to que the dre-there was no steam TO drive the
pumps. Buckets were now drawn into play and
thrown on the burning steerage deck from the
main saloon, the headlights OF which leading to the
steerage deck had been broken through.
fapidity. 1t had taken possession OF the whole OF
the after steerage, being famed by score OF open
ports and several ventlators, which caused cur
rent OF air through the steerage most favorable
the spread OF connagration. The fire made its way
along the narrow passages to the forward steerage
and up to the main deck. Inch by inch the men
were driven away from the steerage, i4om the
saloon, from the main deck.
EXCITING SCENE IN THE HARBoR, But FRIENDLY
AID OF NO AVAIL.
In less than twenty minutes from the first dis.
covery OF the fire the whole ship was full OF suno.
eating smoke, and was afre It's whole magnificent
length All over the harbor fire alarm bells were
ringing, and the harbor was alive with boats but
so rapid was the fire that we have only heard OF
two boats being able to board the ship, one cut
tor from the British man.ofwar Rinaldo and
sarpan containing two officers OF the United States
ship Lackawanna, who happened to be passing on
their way to their ship at the time. The futty Of
further lighting the fire soon impressed itself on
the minds OF all. one by one, as the officers and
the men were beaten back by the flames, did they
seek safety from the burning ship by jumping over
board or sliding down ropes.
Al twenty minutes 70 Twelve the Captain himself
Jumped for his lie. He was the last to leave the
snip. As ne struck the water his limbs became
paraiyzed, and he would inevitably have drowned
had not the friendly hand OF Captain Williams. OF
the Costa Rica; sessd hin as he was about to sink
for the third time.
TUE CHINESE PASSENGERS RUSHING TO pEsrRrc
TION.
In the meantime there was terrible confusion
among the 100 Chinese passengers forward. At
the FIRST alarm OF the 1re they commenced rushing
on deck with their boxes and packages and eI-
fects All rushed for the one ladder forward, gen.
eralis used bv the Chinese passengers. Upon this