Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-27
American e:aIIan.r, a, mnr.e,lIes.


dispatch received just previous to the first
Of May, reported that the officers and men Of
the American squadron, at Marseines, had saved
the shipping in that harbor, aud also the city
from a great conAagration. Later news from
Europe brings the particulars 1t appears tina
an Italian ship from Philadelphia, loaded will
petroleum, exploded in the harbOr and took fire
There was in the harbor a great amount o.
shipping from all parts Of the world, which
would be involved in the conhagration, and The
flames would 90 from the shipping to the city
and cause immense destruction. What could
be done to prevent such disaster2 The French
officials saw no means Of avcrting il, and the
citizens were appalled, with fear. CORE
spondent of the New York Herald tells as fol-
lows what the danger was and what was done
by the Americans Of the feet:
"The American Squadr0n-consistinr of tbe
Wabash, Congress- Brooklyn, Plymouth, She
nand0ah, Juniafa and Wachusett, under the
command of Admiral Alden-were al the time
lying in the Napoleon basin, surrounded by al
most. innumerable merchantmen, embracing
every description of craft and nationality. The
night was fine, the sea calm, and there was a
little moonlight. Suddenly Just after mid
night, an explosion startled the fleet and the
city, and the awakened people beheld with
alarm and dsmay, dense clouds of heavy smoke
rising from the burning hull of an Italian ship
which had lust arrived from Philadelphia with
cargo Of petroleum and had in some way got
ablaze. With the memory of the treat fire at
Bordeaux (Which originated in precisely the
same way still fresh in their minds, the Cit.
Zens FULLY realized the nature of the danger that
now Threatened them. So closely were the
merchantmen huddled together that it seemed
impossible 10 prevent the flames spreading, as
at Bordeaux, through the rest of the fleet and
thence TO the wharycs and city, especially as
the houses come right down TO the front OF the
har6or. Crowds of anxious men gathered
along the shores aud gazed at the peril that
menaced them in panic-stricken, fascinated
horror
"Bnt while the Frenchmen were thus nara.
lyzed with fright the Americans, also sensible of
the danger, took instant measures 10 avert the.
coming disaster. The flames on board the ill.,
fated ship were spreading wish fearful rapidity
aud illuminated with sinister glare the shipping
the quays and the faces of the terror stricken
thousands who had rushed down to the waters
edge. When The CONSERVATION was at its height
the bugles on board the American feet were
heard calling away the boats, with the familiar
tunes that seemed so strangely out of place at
such moment. Presently twelve-oared cut.
ter was seen to push away from The squadron
and speed with lusty strokes toward the burning
OF len or more, until twenty boats, almost all
that Admiral Alden had under his command,
had been despatched on the pressing, dangerous
GRAND Of saving lear-wrapped N lrSeles IN a
lew minutes The first boat which put off gained
the windward side of the burning vessel and
quick as thought, were seen 10 scramble ON
board like cats, and move, as it seemed, amid
the very ha@es. The other boats we've soon
alongside and the admirable plan of the officers
was at once put into execution. Grew alter
crew OF the boats were seen 20 board the vessel
Othefs OF the boats seemed lowering along the
ships side.
On the shore there was dead silence. bat
through the smOrhered roar and cracking of
ihe nre could be heard the clear, firm orders from
Tue American officers in command, succeeded by
tue blows OF axes. Bat tue panic stricken spec.
tat0rs on shore stll had no idea of The plan nv
winch the DANGER was TO be turned aside The
impossibnily OF escape was unxiously canvassed
aud men saw in Imagination the II ming oi
hoatng away from the doomed shin aud unit
Ing the neighbOriug craft, until the whole sur.
lace OF the basin should be covered with hlazin,r
oil aud burning wrecks. The plan OF the Amer
leans was FIRST 10 seuttle the ship, next TO cast
loose the moorngs, aud thirdly to tow her as far
ont into the bay as possible before she sank
nus could not be appreciated at the time by
those on shore; but how admirably American
brains and discipline told that night is in the
sequel When ID was well assured thar the tin
'N' pN'h hhtitiiullN plfitIi ~ luhiFt hti
sshelhg, TIE boats were seen 10 form in slngl,
me, lashed securely together stem 10 stern.
nawser was passed ont over the bow OF the shiI
anl made last to the sternmast boat
ne excitement rose still higher rs the Italian
sowy settled down till her deck WIS almost
sesei Win the surface Of the water. All 10,
ENDORSEMENTS haying been completed the sin lt
nle o. American boats, dashed stem and stern
~ ssen pulling brayely way, and as m,
,,, sutened tue burning slip also slowl,
Inoseu 9ut toward the bay, lowed irresisfibl,
forward by 2OO sturdy American oars i, w.,
slear VOW toat ,Ae peru was over, and an I'M
inense Queer oi delight and gratitude broke from
the assembled etilens Tue Amerr,ns i,,,., \,
rowing nuul the burning vessel sunk ,n,
though there was here and there a t,i. ~, a."
himing OIL upon he waves, no further disa,
Ter occurred, owing to the distance between M
FIRE aud the vessels The next day tle Amer
cans were the recipients Of the wariuest prai,
from all sides Tue people expressed At on,
admiration Ut the ingenuity aud daring Of Il
plan OF action adopted aud gratitude for Il
relief Il had brought them"