The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-11-07
Terrible Marine Disaster.
The Havannn Steamer Missouri Burned
at a.-Seventy-Six Lives Lost and only
Twelve Saved.

The HaV2nnn steamer AlssOurA bCFh0es
at sea.-seventy-six Lives Lost and only
Twelve Saved.
KEY WEsr, Oct. 3O-The steamer
Missouri was burned at sea in gale,
ON the 22d inst, about 25 miles from
Abaco. on the way to Havana, via
Nassau, N. p. Only twelve persons
were saved. The fire was discovered
about 8 o'clock a. m, in the pantry,
and suddenly burst out into volumes
of flame amidships, spreading rapidly
over tie steamer. The boats were
launched immediately, and all but one
were swamped at once. Those re-
manning on board were compelled on
account of the flames to Jump into the
sea. Those saved landed in one of
the boats in Abaco about 6 p. ll..' on
the evening of the 22d, and were taken
from there in a small schooner to
Nassau. 1t was terrible sight for
those in the floating boat to see those
in the water clinging 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 that the captain nscd every eff
fort to save the lives of the passengers,
working bravely himself with the
hose. Three of. the saved passengers
are now here. -. 80 7i. ~ ..'i
Two. Of the boats of the ill-fatcd
Missouri were burned alongside the
vessel, and there is no probability that
any of the. others ever reached the
shore. It is probable that not a single
life would have been saved had it not
been for James Culmer, resident OF
Eleuthera and passenger on board.
A new boat had been purchased in
New 7 ork and placed on deck, but as
the weather had been boistrOus, she
had not been secured either by gripes'
or by checks When it was known
that the vessel would go down, sCul-I
mer, with a 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, had it not been for
Cnimer, who was acquainted with the
management of boat, and took charge
and piioted her safe through the surf,
she would have been lost with the
others. The three passengers who
are Here were bound for Havana, and,
will be forwarded to that port by John
Jay Philbrick, the agent of the Attain
tic Mail Steamship Line at this port,
who has taken every measure towards
securing their comfort. ,'i'
This information was brought here
this afternoon by the steamer Anna
from Nassau to the British Consul,
and communications were sent to the
Atlantic Mail Company's Office in New
York. The origin of the fire is un-
known. 49,,
The Missouri had on board crew
of So, all told, % passengers and an
assorted cargo. Among the saved is
reported colored passenger, whose
presence was not known at the office
of the Company, till after the report
of the disaster, making total OF "
persons on board, of whom only IL
are reported saved. 276 seem undoubt-
edly to have pefished.. = -. > :.
The Missouri was a wooden, screw
steamship, of 1880 tons burthen,- built
at Mystic, Conn, in 1862. She was of
oak and chestnut, copper and IRON
fastened, and had three decks. Of
brigantine rig, she was 210 feet long,
"a feet beam, and % feet in depth. She
had two steam donkey pumps and two
hand pumps, and is said to have been
literally supplied with hose, buckets,
and, in short all ordinary appliances
for extinguishing fire. She had six
boats, rated under the old law to car
ry 80 persons each, and under recent
amendment25 25 persons each. She was
valued at 100000, and was insured
for 100000, distributed among yari-
Gus companies. Her cargo is estima-
ted to have been worth about S25O,OO0,
making a total loss of about $3.50, 600.
Her place viii. be supplied by the
spare steamer, Columbia,
which will sail on the usual day. Mr.
Quinan states that the Missouri was
rated A1*, which is the highest rate of
the American Lloyds. Previous to
her departure, he says, she underwent
an unusually thorough inspection,
which resulted in removal of her
rate. Mr.. Quinan is utterly at loss
to account for the origin of the fire,
and states that there were no combust-
ibles on board the vessel, and nothing
more dangerous than lard, of which !
there was a small invoice, properly !
'tf5 .