The New York herald., 1872-02-07
The Pumps in Bad Order-Only One Beat
Available-The Ships Grew Fight
Ing with Revolvers for tho
Means of Safety.
CowARDlY CONDUCT OF THE CAPTAIN.
Total Loss of the American-B -Bulln
Ship White Rose.

tails of the burning OF the steamer America, already
announced by cable from Lisbon.
RIO JANEIRo, Brazil, Jan. 1s. 1877
We have most distressing news from the RIO Dc u
Plata Last year at this time the plague was juss
beginning It's terrible ravages. Now death comes
in the loss Of the iron steamer America fho
America was one OF the steamers making daily trips
from the city OF MOntevldeo to Buenos Ayres. She
was constructed In New York ana was one Of that
class OF steamers which navigate the Sound. Sae
arrived here In May, 1868, on her way 70 tho
Plata, coming into this port for provisions and ooa
She was well fitted and elegantly furnished for tho
work she was intended to perform and while here
attracted universal attention.
During her stay she was visited By the Emperee
Dom Pedro H., and by invitation ne made IN
excursion ON board OF ner. She left here ana
safely arrived at Montevideo, and thence began
her daily trips She acquired an excellent reputa-
tion for safety speed and comfort. ana her appoas
ments excited universal admiration. Within the
last two years she has passed INTO the hands o.
Italian capitalists. and when lost she way COM
manded by an Italian, named Bossl, whose all was
invested In her. Her loss now has caused profound
sensation throughout Montevideo and Buenss
Ayres and is the last and engrossing topic or Hai-
versal conversation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DTSAsTER.
The steamer America was totally lost on the
morning OF the 23d OF December, ON her passage
from Buenos Ayres to Montevideo The following
Is resume OF descriptions Of the loss from several
surviving passengers and also from the Chief Ea-
gineer:-
The America sailed from Buen0s Ayres fsA the
evening OF the 22d Of December at the custO vharv
hour, taking 134 passengers. Her company O0n-
sisted OF over thirty persons, including captain.
officers, crew and servants. Sne made her voyage
without interruption until at halr-past one O'Clock
a m NJ tha w Than n WnM
known point on the river discovered twelve 0r
fifteen miles ahead. At this hour one OF the bOtler
tubes called
THE WATER POINT" EXPLODED.
The steam rushed into the fireroom, h
stantly scaldng to death Two fremen and one GOAL
HEAVIER, who were oi,ing portions OF the machinery
ana at the same time extnguishing all the lights
and scattering the live coal all about room and
between the boilers and the steamers sides. lha
heat was intense that 1t was Impossible
to remain longer below. and the chief eugi-
neer Informed Captain B0ssi Of the fact
and recommended that the pumps should
be rgged and Immediately set going. The pumps
had not been used In some time and were In such
bad order as to be totally unserviceable. In the
meantime 1t was deemed advisable to form c0m-
pany for the saving OF the lives of the passenGen
for the vessel was constructed Of white pine. and
everything in Its material tended to the rapid pre-.
pagation OF the now increasing fire. which spread
rapidly, consuming everything before 1t.
THE FIRE. BEING AMIDsHIPs,
separated the steamers company ana passengers
into two portions those forward being totally un.
able to communicate with those In the afterpart oe
the steamer and reasonably and naturally causing
panic and producing deplorable confusion, tho
scene Of which 1t Is impossible to describe. Of all
the boats Of the steamer-whch were able to save
200 people or more II properly handled-oniy one
cnuI ha lnwo
used in some time, were secured 80 nrmly In tina
boat shocks that 1t was next to impossible to re.
move them, and the two which were cast loose
and launched were Immediately swamped ~
the hall-crazed passengers. Some OF the more
energetic passengers tried launch the other boass
but 1t was found impossible.
At this time the oflcers had lost all control over
the steamers crew, who with revolvers, which 10
appears they all carried, were dsputing and fight
ing with passengers for the means OF saving life
Strange as it may appear, no signals were made to
the passing steamer villa 90 Salto which would In
dicate any unusual danger board the America:
and not until the names burst into sight was tha
Ofncer IN charge OF the Villa do Salto aware OF any
trouble or danger, when he Immediately put back
to the assistance OF the America The captain OF the
America tBossD was the first to ABANDON has
steamer, taking refuge on board an Italian vesse-oE
war; where he has since remained. His course has
excited universal indignation in Montevldeo and
Buenos Ayres, and he is threatened with being
lynched II he appears ashore The loss OF life It Ia
not possible to learn with certainty, but It seems
that
MORE THAN SIXTY PERSONS HAVE PERIsHED.
so far as have been able to ascertain no citizens
Of the United States were among the lost.
The Captain OF the port OF Montevdeo has asked
that gold medal be awarded to the captain OF the
villa do Sato for his gallant conduct, which saved
must have been. without his efforts, horrible death
to them.
Although Captain Bossi is much to blame for his
conduct, yet 1t certainly to be lamented stnat tns
savings Of many years Of diligence have been thus
Instantly lost for his whole property OF $4,000 q
invested IN this steamer: vosr
At haf-past I'VE o'clock on the morning o, I'D nnurs-
day. January IL, teiegraphic despatch vas re- re-
seaed n s' o ,Ss Ss1 EnSsn
probable total loss The friGate Immortallte OF ina
m tns barScr was immediately sent to her relier
but finding it impossible TO effect any masenal as.
sistsnce the mortanse re'urneu ou 'N' '"''o""s
The white Rose was n aS aSS oSt EnssS
owners. She was on the passage from % Ca Caiso % to
Portsmouth, England, for orders sne was ssa COM. %
burden. Her cargo consisted OF 1,4oo tons OF
euano. she sprang o leak ana made MAJ .w wafer -
noint known ss Nazareth beach, near Ponto Negra,
IN the coast north OF Rio, and about twenty
ave miles from the entrance co Of RIO narDor.
deserted her refusing 10 lift their hands 10 secure
the saving Of anything pertaining TO % the snip and
vemSained 81 ner She was advertised to-day FOR
sale at public auction at the Exchange. Just a.
she stands-spars, rigging. boats ana all-and waa
SsTs. II the weather remains good as at present.
the running Rigging, sails, spars, anchors.
cargo must prove Q total loss. ON tha
other nand should strong wind como up from the
south, southeast or especially the southwest, which
| is always accompanied by heavy raina wind and
atrone surL Il wilt hA lmDoaatola to cave roue yarR