The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-09
TIE PAssEHsGHERs' SWORN STATEMENTS.
The following affldavits Of three passengers OF
the Missouri were taken by the United States Vice
Consul at Havana ft 81 stN44 I'LL


Consul at Havana iN5-
.,s AFFIDAVIT OF MR.. GEORGE THAcKERAY.
CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES,
lae.A HAVANA, Nov. !, 1872. !
dersigned, United States Vice Consul General at
Havana personally appeared Mr.; George Thackeray,
the steamer Missouri, Greene, MASTER from New
York, bound to havana via Nassau, on the 18th day
Of October last friday: On Tuesday morning,
the passengers were sitting down to breakfast,
TIE ALARM OF FIRE
was given which came first from the pantry room,
and created some excitement, but which was
almost Immediately quelled by the assurance that
some one shouted at the top Of his voice, which
7 seemed to come from below, "Fireln Within two
minutes the broke out the gssgs
deck and commenced to endeavor to u -4A
srff si III LOWER THE BOATS t4AAN
and find lfe-preservers. Quite a gale was blow
ing at the time and a heavy sea running.
which caused the vessel to lurch greatly to star.
the lre b. ke out, and the Games beat directly on
one OF the boats so fercely Ito compel those en-
deavoring to lower II 70 leave j.; Two boats We've
nine PERSONS s u and nom our our boat we threw
out out. ! afterwards saw q third boat, Keel
upward, with two men sitting on the bottom.
were engaged in releasing one of the boats and
pulling AFT and succeeded in launching it safely
over the stern OF 9
The boat contained three oars, two buckets and
Q compass. Twelve persons, including my.
IN the scay me vessel nea
two hours. The sea was 80 rough and the wind SO
We saw persons noating around US, some dozen or
twenty, with llfe-preservers. but we were unable
70 them II on sI
ored to pull to the two sitting on the keel Of the
other boat, but the sea was too strong. At about
eleven O'Clock we headed our boat In
THE DIRECTION OF THE LAND,
which we reached about dark or say six O'Clock IN
we passed the night, and the next day we discov-
cred growing sugar cane fields and several houses,
but saw no living persons We made Q breakfast
O'Clock, pulling around it until we
DISCOVERED A SAIL At SEA,
for which we made, and by hosting coat on an
oar attracted her attention and were picked up
sna carried into Nassau y tGe ssPy
sworn to and subscribed before me-HENRY O.
HALL, Vice Consul General.
AFFIDAVIT OF MR. ENRIQUE YUNco.
CONSULATE GENERAL OF TIE UNITED STATES,
. -f HAVANA Nov. ], 1872. !
7 On this LIST day OF November, before me, the I'M
yana pcrsonaiiy APPEARED Mr.. Enriane Yunco and
declared as folows:- .gseeg. iae
sailed as passenger from New York to Havana
In the steamer Missouri, via Nassau, on the 18th
ult. On the 22d, Tuesday morning, at about nine
O'Clock. while was on the upper deck, | heard
hf saR so 81 upper dse
at the time. Hooked toward the smokestack and
tiiators and gratings. ran towards the malD
deck to ascertain the extent OF the fire, but could
not pass on account Of the flames rushing through
the engine room doors. l then ran again 10 the
upper deck ana perceived the rigging near one Of
the boats had caught nre also, ! then
preserver and then to the upper deck to assist in
3 which sssGbsd, SSs.aahs Sine TsfsSs Yh III
other boat keeled bottom upwards, ana I saw two
men sitting on the keel. In the meantime we cut
s te a in Launching ns upper tos winch na 'V
p pses, abais the - smdEesiaes and launched
three men, seaman and two negroes, one Of them
belonging to Nassau, and the other barber, en-
gagged for Mr.. Cevclands new hotel at that place,
out. others, including myself,
SLIP'sp DOWN The ROPE
and fell INTO The water and were dragged INTO ING
boat, until some twelve persons finally succeeded
In getting In. With this number the boat was as
fun as II could carry, and seaman sung out
forward to one OF the passengers in the forward
part OF the boat, ana thereupon cut the painter.
A. Inc time there % e. e
TO the boat, the painter was cut above his hands,
which saved his life, as he was one OF those taken
FELL INTO THE WATER.
we saw numbers OF persons noat ln IN ID
we were unable to give them any assist.
ance. We were, however, enabled to toss q bucket
to the swamped boat with two persons, but were
unable to get near the boat with the two persons
sitting on the Keel on account OF the high wind,
We remained in the vicinity Of the burning Ship
about two hours, and then sailed in the direction
OF land. on account OF the high wind, the sudden
ness OF the alarm and the rapdity OF the flames
NO ORDERS SEEMED TO BE GIVEN,
or, II given, were undlstingusable. l did see a
number OF men working to i0wer the boats, and ]
have no doubt but that the captain and officers did
all In their power during the short time allowed
them to
SAVE THE SHIP
and the lives OF the passengers but we're unable to
on account Of the extreme rapidity Of the flames
and the helpless condition Of the steamer, the en-
gines stopped, the high sea running and the wind
blowing. We reached Great Yguana Key at about
six or seven O'Clock that night, where we slept,
and the next day we pulled round the key till we
discovered q schooner which picked rs up and
carried us to Elbow Key and thence TO Nassau.
ENRIQUE YUNC0.
Sworn to ana subscribed before me-HENRY G.
HULL, United States Vice Consul General
AFFIDAVIT q Mr.. OUTEuDRTDQE