Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-11-20
The Missouri Disaster.

AAAAANA FAhAANNA AaAAaa AAaNA @NAAf f"tt"a
Five seaman Of the Missouri we're pas
scngcrs by the steamer MORO Castle
which arrived, yesterday, from Havana.
John Rebels, who vas one Of the passang-
ers states that the boat in which couiain-
ed nine or ten persons Afer rowing hours
they landed at Great Guam Bay and staid
there over night The next day they put
of and were picked up by the schooner
Spy and taken into Nassau. There was
great confusion on the steamer, aud on
passage, previous to the fire, the engines
were stopped fifteen times, and he did
not think the Missouri was seaworthy.
William Joees, sailor, makes the fol
lowing statement: On Friday, October
"a, at about nine A NJ. the cry Of FIRE
was raised, and the origin was supposed
to have been in the Rre.room, near the
gratings. AT this TIME, all hards were
uniurling the fore topsal. 1t was blowing
gale from the northeast The first aud
second officers we're on deck, and we were
ordered at once to attach the hose to the
donkey pumps. Inside of 20 minutes it
was found that the ship must be cleared,
and most of the passengers who were at
breakfast, hurried on deck, but still there
was no confusion. Three boats were low
cred, one ofwhich was burned, one smash
ed with nine passengers init and the one
in which my comrades and | were saved,
IL altogether. We ran around the ship
over two hours, but, owing to the heavy
sea, 70 ind it impossible to render any as
sistance. A PASSENGER, James w. Culver,
of Nassau, seafaring man, took charge
of the boat We steercd for land, aud
made Great Guano Keys, about % miles
distant. 1t took us about I hours to eft
feet a landing, but, although it was bow
lug almost a hurricane, we effected a safe
landing. We saw the burning ship up to
about half-past two. There were about
81 passengers, aud "a Of the crew. On
our arrival at Elbow Key. two scEoouers
were Immediately dispatched to search for
the ship and passengers, but returned,
having failed to find anything. Before
leaving the ship we did everything we
could to assist those in the swanped boat.
The captain and officers acted with the ut
most GOODNESS, aud everything was done
to extingaish the flames. ~ ?. ''a' -
i. Bohme, pantry man, says; saw
the FIRE first on the port pantry locker
! have no idea how it occurred. One Of the
walters was getting some plate baskets
tor the saloon out of the lockers, when he
suddenly raised a cry of fire. went tc
the locker and used a wet carpet to put il
out the steward, who was coming from
the saloon with a bucket ofwater, threw
it on the flames and we were confident tn,
the flames were suppressed. announced
that the fire was out, and for time qutct
was restored. But almost Immediately
i a volume of smoke issued from the engn,
room, and the alarm of fire was agalr
raised went on the main deck anC
saw smoke coming from the epgine-toon
, doors, and went below for life prcscrvel
, tried to get to my room but the gang
way was filled with smoke. I'then start
ed for the hurricane deck, aud few min
: utes afterward the flames burst through
the hurricane deck | went aft and saw
boat launched, and got into Eer by let
) ting myself down on painter. The pas
sengcrs and captain were calm. The don
5 key pump could not be conveniently 60
5 at, but the hose was put on, and the han'
: pumps we're used. The captain then or
. dered the boats to be launched. The on
. in which was saved was on deck, aud
, a life-boat. We carried it from anidship
threw 1t over the st ;rn, aud then got int
, her ~ means Of a painter,
The court Of inquiry commenced takin
testimony relative TO the loss Of the Mis-
0 souri, at Nassau on the lst shq
q "A new food preparatlou,, under tn