The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-11-01
THE BURNING OF THE mis-.
souri,.
Account Given by Ono Of The SnTyI.
VOTss


V0Tss
New YoRK, October 3l.-The follow.
ing particulars ot the burning Of the
steamship Missouri has been obtained
from one OF the survivors who arrived
here. When the boat which was saved
left the burning ship, one Of the boats
was seen with Its keel upward, which had
two men on It. The rescued boat lay for
two hours by sWamped boat, contain.
ing nine men, including the engineers,
firemen and ships barber. A bucket was
given TO the inmates Of the swamped boat
to bail with, there being two in the res
cued boat. As there were no seamen in
the swamped boat, they were unable TO
properly manage It, and In this condition
they were left. Il Is not likely that any
Of them were saved. No sails had been
seen for two days previous to the fire
On that day the Missouri was In
company with ship from 0:l5 A. NJ. until
8 p. NJ, when she was lost sight of for for.
ty minutes. Atler the rescued lCft the
Missouri they saw the passengers and
crew, who remained on board crowded on
tho after part Of the vessel. 1t is said that
tho fire was first discovered on the floor
OF the locker in the pantry, and the cry OF
FIRE was Immediately given. Wet carpets
were at once put on the fire by the pantry
men and Others, and the steward reported
to the passengers that the fire was out.
The alarm was given while the passen.
gers were at breakfast, but on receiving
the stewards report that the fire had been
extinguished breakfast was resumed and
the fears OF the passengers were quieted.
Within two minutes, however, sew
eral voices screamed out fire from
the stoke hole. All was then con.
fusion, and in twenty minutes three boats
were launched. In the rescued boats,
with the exception Of few pieces of
sugar cane there was neither food nor
water; neither we're there any sails or
anything to make them ot. 1t was from
8 o'clock in the morning Of the 22d un-
til 2 O'Clock in the morning OF the 28l
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 Hope.
town, on the Elbow, where they arrived
about Z o'clock =. II. On the oath
q schooner was sent towards the burning
ships with charts and full directions
where to find her, and with instructions
to look for the ships boats and skirt the
coast The schooner returned about mid.
night on the 24th and reported having
seen nothing OF the boats or passengers.
The sea was then breaking heavily on
tho reefs. The party lett Hopetown on
the 25th and arrived at Nassau on the
Goth. 1t Is said that the donkey pumps
of the steamer were never started, ono Of
the passengers asserting that he had hold
Of the hose for some time, and that no
water was forced through on the flames
Tho two deck pumps were worked few
minutes only. Within fifteen minutes of.
ter the alarm of fire was given twelve Of
the survivors were in boat, and the
fAmes were coming from the stoke hole
in volume. The ships course was nev.
er altered, and consequently the flames
were carried athwart the ship, burning
one life boat on the lee side and making II
too hot to get the others of. Only three
boats were launched, two OF which were
swamped. It's said that seven females
and seven children were aboard the Mis-
souri,, none Of whom got into tho boats.
The scene presented was heart rendlng.
The Missourl's engines were stopped, but
her sails LETT spread, and the speed
Of four knots was still maintained
when she was last seen. Captain Greene
was working with Purser HemSteadIand
some OF the crew trying to get of 6l the
boat, surrounded by smoke and flames
Eleven of the survivors say that the boat
was never launched, but Capt. Jolemer
says 1t was launched full Of people, but
was Immediately swamped.
KEY WEST, FLA, October 3l.-The
only expense incurred in this port by the
little English steamer Anna, belonging
to the Atlantic Mail Steamship Company,
which brought tho survivors Of the i'll.
fated steamship Missouri from Nassau,
was forced upon her by United States
Custom officers, who even charged her
with tonnage dues for twelve months in
advance. Every one else with whom the
Anna had business worked willingly and
gratuitously.
New YORK, Oct. S1.-The steamship
Missouri, burned at sea, was OF 1850 tons
burden, valued at 100000, insured for
100000. The cargo was estimated at
$3.50 900.