Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-01
THE ILL-FATED MISSOURI.
Particulars Of the Burning OF the Mis-
souri, st Sea as Related By the SUR
TiY0rs-The Origin Of the Fire.
Criminal Neglect IN the Vessels Ap-
pOintments for the Saving Of Life
In Case OF Aecident-The
Struggle for Life.
A Bit OF MeaBRess on the Part OF the
United States Custom 0fIleers
toward the British
Steamer Anna.

KEY WEST, October 3l.-The follow
ing particulars Of the burning Of the
steamship Missouri have been obtained
from the survivors who have arrived
here:
When the boat which was saved left
the burning ship, one boat was seen
with its keel upward, which had two
men on it. The rescued boat lay for two
hours by a swamped boat containing
nihe men, including the engineers, fire.
men and ships barber A bucket was
given to the inmates of the swamped
boat to bail with, there being two in the
rescued boat. AS there were no seamen
in the swamped boat they were unable
to properly manage it, and in this con-
ditiOn they were left. It is not likely
that any Of them We're saved No sails
had been seen for two days previous to
the fire. On that day the Missouri was
in company with a ship from fifteen
minutes past nine in the morning till
three ia the afternoon, when she was lost
sight Of. For forty minutes after the
rescued left the Missouri, they
saw the passengers and crew, who re-
manned on board, crowded on the after
part of the vessel. It is said that fire
was first discovered on the floor Of the
locker, in the pantry, and the cry Of fire
was Immediately given. Oil carpets
were at once put on the fire by the pan
trymen and Others, and the steward re-
ported to the passengers that the fire was
out. The alarm was given while the
passengers were at breakfast, but on re-
eeiving the stewards report that the fire
had been exringuished, breakfast was
resumed, and the fears Of the
passengers were quieted. Within
two minutes, however, several of the
crew screamed fire from the stOkehOle
All was then confusion. Within twenty
minutes three boats were launched. In
the rescued boats, with the exception of
a few pieces Of sugar-cane, there was
neither food nor water, and only two
small oars and a large one; neither were
there any sails o. anything to make
them of. It was from nine o'clock on
the morning Of the twenty-second until
two O'Clock in the afternoon of the
twenty-third before assistance was OBJ
tanned. At that time the schooner Spy
was sighted, and the rescued party pulled
vigorously to her. The Spy took the
survivors to HOpetOwn, OFF Elbow Key,
where they arrived about seven O'Clock
on the afternoon Of the twenty-third
On the twenty-fcurtha schooner was sent |
toward the burning ship, with charts
and full directions where TO find
her, and with instructions TO look for
the ships boats and skirt the coast. The
schooner returned about midnight on
the twenty-fOurth, and reported having
seen nothing Of the boats or passengers.
The sea was breaking heavily on the |
reefs. The party left HopetOwn on the
twenty-fifth, and arrived at Nassau on
the twenty-eighth. 1t is said that the /
dOnkey-pumps Of the steamer were nev-
er started, one of the passengers assert |
ing that he had hold of the hose some I
time, and that no water WAS forced I
through on the flames from the donkey /
pumps. Two deck pumps were worked |
a few minutes only. Within fifteen |
after the alarm Of fire was
given, the twelve survivors were /
in the boat, and the flames |
were coming from the stOke-hole 1
in a volume. The ships course was /
never altered, and consequently the /
flames were carried athwarthships, burn |
ing up one lifebOat on the lee side, and |
it too hot to get the others of. |
Only three boats were launched, two Of /
which were swamped. 1t is said that |
seven females and seven children were |
aboard the Missouri, none Of whom got |
into the boats. The scene presented was |
The MissOuri's engines |
but her sails were left spread, |
and a speed Of four knots maintained. /
When last seen Captain Green was /
with Purser Hampstead and /
some Of the crew, trying to get |
off the lee boat, surrounded by |
the smoke and flames. Eleven of the |
survivors say that the boat was never !
launched, but the twelfth, Captain Cul- |
mer, says it was launched and full Of 1
people, but was Immediately swamped. |
The only expense incurred in this port |
by the little English steamer Anna, be-
longing to the Atlantic Mail Steamship |
Company, which brought the survivors |
Of the i1-fated steamship Missouri from /
Nassau, was forced upon her by the |
United States custom officers, who even |
charged her with tonnage dues for |
twelve months in advance. Every one |
else with whom the Anna had business |
worked willingly and gratuitOusly.