Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-11-15
The Burning of the Steamship Mis-
souri,.

hEY WEST, ria, OCLODer ri.
The steamer was burned at sea in gale
on the 22d inst, about 25 miles from
Abaco, en- route for Havana, ria Nassau,
N. P. The fire was discovered about 0
a. IN. in the pantry, and suddenly burst
out in volumes of flame amidships,
spreading rapidly over the ship. The
boats were launched Immediately, and AL
but one were swamped at once. Those
remaining on board were compelled on
account of the flames to jump in the sea.
Those saved landed in one Of the boats at
Abaco about five p. m. on the evening of
the 23d, and were taken from here in
small schooner to Nassau. 1t was terri
BILE sight for those in the floating boat to
see those in the water clinging to swamp
ed boats, and begging for assistance. 1t
is not known whether any of the missing
have since been picked up. 1t is said
that the Captain used every effort TO save
the lives of the passengers. Three of the
saved passengers are here now.
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 nine men,
including the engineers, tiremen, and
ships barber. A bucket was given to
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 condition they we're left.
1t is not likely that any of them were
saved. No sails had been seen for two
days previous to the fire. On that day
the Missouri was in company with ship
from quarter past nine a. m. until three
p. m, when she was lost sight Of For
forty minutes after the rescued left the
Missouri they saw the passengers and
crew who remained on board crowded On
the after part of the vessel.
1t is said the fire was first discovered on
the floor of the locker in the pantry, and
the cry of fire was instantly given. Wet
carpets were Immediately put ON the fire
by the pantrymen and others, and the
stewards reported to the passengers that
the fire was out. The alarm was given
while the passengers were at breakfast,
but on receiving the stewards report that
the fire had been eXtinguished, Che break
fist was resumed, and the fears of the
passengers quieted. Within two minutes,
however, several voices screamed fire
from the stoke,hole. All was then con
fusion. Within twenty minutes three
boats were launched. In the rescued
DOdl, Win CACGpIlOu vi n lew DlCCCS
of sugar-cane, there was neither food nor
water, and only two small oars and a
large one neither were there any sails or
anything to make them of. 1t was from
nine o'clock in the morning of the 22d
until two o'clock in the afternoon of the
23d before assistance was obtained. At
that time the schooner Spy was sighted,
and the rescued party pulled vigorously
to her. The Spy took the survivors to
Hopetown, on Elbow Key, where they
arrived about seven p m. on the 23d. On
the Gath a schooner was sent toward the
burning ship with charts and full direc-
tions where to find her, and with instruc-
tions to look for the ships boats and skirt
the coast. The schooner returned about
midnight on the Gath, and reported hav.
ing seen nothing of the boats or passen,
gers. The sea was then breaking heavily
on the reefs. The party left Hopetown at
ten O'clock on the 26th, and arrived at
Nassau at half.past two p. m, on the 29th.
1t is said that the donkey pumps or the
steamer were never started, one of the
passengers asserting that he had hold of
the hose some time and that no water was
forced through it on the flames from the
donkey. Two deck pumps were worked
few minutes only. Within fifteen min
utes after the alarm of fire was given the
twelve survivors were in the boat, and
the flames were coming from the stoke
hole in a volume. The ships course was
never altered, and consequently the
flames were carried athwartships, burning
up one life,boat on the lee side and max
ing it too hot to get the others on 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 ths
| boats,