Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-18

II
tic Crew and an Unavailable Set of
Fire Escapes-The Captain the First
Man to Desert His POst-Scenes and
Incidents.
The Brazilian correspondence Of the New
York Herald contains full and interesting
details Of the burning of the steamer
America, lost on her passage from Buenos
Ayres to MOntevideo, Dec. %; and which
fact, announced by cable, has been alluded
to as fully as circumstances would permit.
The America was one of the steamers
making daily trips from the city of Monte
video to Buenos Ayres. She was construct
ed in New York, and was one of that class
of steamers which navigate the Sound. She
arriveda at 2io in May, 1865, on her way to
the l'lata, coming into this port for proVis-
ions and coal. She was well fitted and ele-
gantly furnished for the work she was in
tended TO perform, and while here attracted
universal attention.
During her stay she was visited by the
Emperor Don PEDRO II, and by invitation q.
he made an excursion on board of her.
She left here ard safely arrived at Monte
video, and thence began her daily trips.
She acquired an excellent reputation for
safety, speed and comfort, and her appoint
ments excited universal admiration With
in the last two years she has passed into the
hands of Italian capitalists, and when lost
she was commanded by an Italian named
Bossi, whose all was invested in her. Her
loss row has caused profound sensation
throughout MontevideO and BuenoS Ayres,
and is the last and engrosSing topic of uni
YeTSal conversation.
The steamer America was totally lost on
the morning of the 23d of Decor uber, on
her passage from BuenOs AyTes to Monte
videO. The following is a resume of de-
scriptions Of the loss from several surviving
passengers, and also from the chief engi-
neer:
The America sailed from Buenos Ayles
on the evening of the 22d of Decor nber, at
the customary hour, taking 1874 pas sengers.
Her company consisted of over thirty per
sons, including captain, officers, crew and
servants. She made her voyage without
interruption until at 1870 o'clock on the
morning of the 23d, when the CerrO "a
Well-knOwn point on the river) was discOv-
cred twelve or fifteen miles ahead. At this
hour one o. the boiler tubes, called the
water point" exploded. The steam
rushed out into the fire-room, instantly
scalding to death two fremen and one coal
HEAVIER, who were Oiling portions of the ma,
chiney, and at the same time eXtingUishing
all the lights and scattering the live Goals
about the room and between the boilers
and the steamers sides. The heat was so
intense that it was impossible to remain
longer below, and the chief engineer in
formed Capt. Bossi of the fact, and recon-
mended that the pumps should be rugged
automatically set agoing. The pumps had
not been used in some time, and were in such
bad order as to be totally In the
meantime it was deemed advisable to form
a company for the saving of the lives Of the
! passengers, for the vessel was constructed
of white pine, and everything in its material
tended to the rapid propagation Of the now
| increasing fire, which spread rapidly, con-
| Stunning everything before it. The fire being
/ amidships, separated the steamers company
and passengers into two portions, those for
/ ward being totally unable to communicate
! with those in the after part of the steamer,
! and naturally causing panic and produc-
! ing deplorable confusion, the scene Of which
! it is impossible to describe. OF ali the boats
! of the steamer-which were able to save
! 200 people or more if properly handled
/ only one could be lowered. The
| others, not having been used in some time,
were secured SO firmly in the bOat-shOcks
! that it was next to impossible to remove
them, and the two which were cast loose
and launched were Immediately swamped
| by the half-Crazed passengers. Some of the
more energetic passengers tried to launch
the other boats, but it was found impossible.
At this time the officers had lost all con-
troll over the steamers crew, who, with re-
~volvers, which it appears they all carried,
was disputiI q and fighting with passengers
! for the means of saving life. Strange as it
may appear, no signals were made TO the
passing steamer Villa do Salto which would
indicate any unusual danger on board the
America; and not until the flames burst ont
into sight was the officer in charge of the
! Villa do SaltO aware of any trouble or dan
ger. when lie Immediately put back to the
assistance of the America. The ain of
the America (Bossi) was the first to abau-
don his steamer, taking refuge on board an
Italian vessel-of-war, where he has since re-
NAMED. His course has excited universal
indignation in MOntevideo and BuenOs
Ayres, and he is threatened with being
lynched if he appears ashore. The loss of
life is not possible to learn with certainty,
but it seems that more than sixty persons
have persisted.
So far rs could be 2scertained no citizens
of the United States were among the
lost.
The captain of the port of Montevideo
has asked that gold medal be awarded to
the captain of the Villa do SaltO for his gal
liant conduct, which saved the lives of GER
tainly seventy persons from what must have
been, without his efforts, horrible death
to them.
Although Capt. Bossi is much to blame
1 L, - - L. L.
mented that the savings of many years of
diligence have been instantly lost, for his
whole property of $4,000 was invested in
tbic Stpanoar