The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-25
AMERICANS TO THE RESCUE
ON BOARD THE BURNING SHIP.
Twenty Boats in Single File Tow Her
Out Into the Bay.
THE PERIL OVERCAST.
Joy and Gratitude Of the
People.
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.

TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
The HERALD correspondent at London has
forwarded us the following special despatch:-
LONDON, May "a, 1872.
Full and complete dispatches have been re-
ceived at last in reference to the gallant con-
duct Of the officers and sailors of the Ameri-
can squadron at Marseilles in the latter part
of last month.
SAVING CITY.
They achieved ono of those splendid VIC
tories of peace which bring greener laurels
than any that are won in war. BY their dis
cipline, skill and intrepidity the shipping in
the harbor of that port was saved from certain
destruction, and it is more than probable that
but for their gallantry the flames would have
also spread to the city, when the horrors Of
Chicago might have been repeated since
French cities are deplorably defective in agen-
cies for the control and extinguishment of
fires.
The American squadron-consisting of the
Wabash, Congress, Brooklyn, Plymouth, She
nandoah, Juniata and Wachusett, under the
command of Admiral Alden-were at the time
lying in the Napoleon Basin, surrounded by
almost innumerable merchantmen, embracing
every description of craft and nationality. The
night was fine, the sea calm, and there was
little moonlight. Suddenly, just after mid
night, an explosion startled the feet and the
city, and the awakened people beheld, with
alarm and dismay dense clouds of heavy smoke
rising from the burning hull of IN Italian ship
which had just arrived from Philadelphia with
q cargo of petroleum and had in some way got
ablaze
THE DANGER.
With the memory Of the great fire at Bor-
deaux (Which originated in precisely the same
way) still fresh in their minds, the citizens
fully realized the nature of the danger that now
threatened them. So closely were the mer-
chantmen huddled together that it seemed
impossible to prevent the flames spreading, as
at Bordeaux, through the rest of the feet and
thence to the wharves and city, especially as
the houses come right down to the front of the
harbor. Crowds Of anxious men gathered
along the shores and gazed at the peril that
menaced them in panic-stricken, fascinated
horror, ..rgl.. .. ....~. ..-..-.-
AMERICANS TO THE RESCUE.
But while the Frenchmen were thus para
lyzed with fright the Americans, also sensible
of the danger, tool, instant measures to avert
the coming disaster The flames on board the
ill-fated ship were spreading with fearful
rapidity and Illuminated with sinister glare
the shipping, the quays and the faces of the
down to the waters edge. When the con-
sternation was at its height the bugles on board
the American fleet were heard calling away
the boats, with the familiar tunes that
seemed so strangely out Of place at such
moment Presently twelve-oared cutter was
seen to push away from the squadron and
speed with lusty strokes toward the burning
ship; then another and another; then clus-
ter of ten or more until twenty boats, almost
all that Admiral Alden had under his CON-
mand, had been despatched on the pressing,
dangerous GRAND of saving fear-wrapped
Marseilles
OUR BOYS BATTLING THE FLAMES
In few minutes the first boat which put off
gained the windward side of the burning YES
sci and quick as thought, were seen to
scramble on board, like cats, and move, as
it seemed amid the very flames. The other
boats we're soon alongside and the admirable
plan Of the officers was at once put into execu-
were seen to board the vessel. Others
of the boats seemed lowering along the
ships side. On shore there was o
dead silence but through the smothered roar
and cracking Of the FIRE could DO heard the
clear, firm orders from the American officers
in command, succeeded by the blows Of axes.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
! But tho uanio-stxicken spectators on shore