American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-11-16
Another Holocaust ut Sea.

THE PERILs of those who ''go down t,
the sea in ships" are receiving striking
illustration. The burning of the Bicnville
which has been chronicled so lately, Ia.
now its sister horror in the news which
comes to us from Key West of the de
struction by fire of the Atlantic Mai
COmpany's steamer Missouri off Abaco
Bahamas, in a gale of wind. We can cal
culate the extent of the disaster by the
appalling number of lives sacrificed and
the amount of valuable property destroy.
ed. Out of lightweight souls but twelve
are reported saved, leaving list OF seven
ty-siX to be added to the dismal catalogue
of victims of the flames or the waves which
has had such plentiful additions of late.
| This list includes all the officers. The Mis-
| souri, sailed from New York on the 18th
| of October, having been it is stated, over
| hauled and certified by the United States
inspectors since the loss of the Metis.
| which occurred in August last. But GER
tificateS did not avail her. Whatever vir-
tues they may possess do not overcome
the faultiness of construction which makes
vessel at once a bonfire when the torch is
applied. We learn that the fire was dis
covered in the pantry at nine A. NJ. an
hour when everybody on board the DOOM
ed steamer was astir. The certificate did
not provide a ready hose and plentiful
supply of water, apparently, or else it did
not prevent the pantry from flaming up
like pine knot before water could be of
avail. We do not know what measures
to the dead, we must wait before pass
ing judgment; but we are told what was
attempted towards the saving of life.
There were six boats. Three OF these
when lowered capsiZed, and two of them
were burned beside the vessel. From the
wildness of the sea which was on at the
time, this capsiZing was to be expected,
m a Job,
often seiZes men in such moments de-
handing all their GOODNESS, there is to be
taken into consideration the fact that the
crew of such vessels are generally unin-
structed in the rapid lowering of the boats
and their management in heavy sea. 1t is
apparent, indeed, that but for the GOODNESS
and intrepidity of a passenger, Mr.. Gull
mer, not a living being would have sur
vived to tell the tale. The sixth boat lay
upon the deck without davits or tackle
to lower her properly. She was lowered,
however. and this heroic man took the
painter in his hand and jumped overheard
as soon as the boat was launched. He
to it, pulled her alongside and so allowed
eleven fellow beings to join him. He
knew how to manage boat in the surf,
and so pilOted to the shore the only rem
nant OF the vessels living cargo.
When the Australian steamer. the Lon
don, went down in the Bay OF BiScay,
with Brooke. the tragedian, among the
great number lost, it was by the knOwl-
edge of just such a man in managing a
boat that the few survivors weathered out
the fearful tempest that ragged. There
were ample accommodations for all in the
boats of the Missouri but somehow, the
boats seldom save anybody. They are
fixed up, hung on the davits, and might
as well be sleeves, for all the good they do
in saving life in such a moment as came
to the Missouri. The crew knew nothing
little or nothing-about their manage
ment, and then when life is lost in scores
the companies lay the blame to PrOvi-
dence. As with the life-preservers of the
Metis. the certificates only father a fraud.
1t is melancholy indeed to reflect on these
things. We shall have an inquiry, no
doubt; but there is little to be expected
therefrom, unless in addition to an in
sistance on compliance with certain me-
chanical conditions, the higher machine,
man, who superintends, all should be,
duty under the most trying circumstan-
ccS.
Among those lost on the occasion was
Colonel Evans, late agent of the Associa-
ted Press in San Francisco. We can but
dimly guess at the horrors of the scene
which saw the stormy waters engulf what
the flames roared to devour on that fatal
morning; but if any lesson can be learned
from its miseries we should take care that
it is needed. We must not assail Provi-
dence when the cause lies in our own neg
lect.- N. Y. Herald, October 81.