The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-11-17
Another Disaster at Sea,
The Steamer City of
WacosRurned eff
Galveston.

Passengers and Crew, Number
ing Nearly Fifty, All
Missing.
Probability that Meta Life was
Saved.
GALVESTON, November 9.-The
steamship City Of Waco, Of the Nal
Tory Line, arrived from New York
! Yesterday and was anchored outside,
with the feet Of. vessels. At one
O'Clock this morning she was discov-
cred Il be on fire. A strong north
east wind was blowing, with showers
of rain. The passengers, officers and
crew took to the ships open boats at
three O'Clock and passed through the
feet The.sea was so high the other
vessels could render them DO assist
ance. The last seen of the open
boats they were drifting in a wesier-
ly direction down the coast. The
Agents Of the line have telegraphed
for a list Of her passengers. One of
Galveston's pilots, who had gone out
on her arrival, was also on board.
Carriages have been sent down the
beach, and a steam tug dispatched
outside in search Of the missing pas
sengers and crew. The steamer
burned tc the waters edge and is now
reported sinking. 1t is supposed the
vessel and cargo are a total loss.
GALVESTON, November 9.-The
City Of Waco, which had burned to
the waters edge, Der hull rolling in
a heavy sea, sunk at l P. NJ. to-day,
in seven fathoms Of water. The
vessel and cargo are n total loss.
The wind this morning was blowing
a gale. The passengers and crew
put of in the ships boats, of which
she had four, besides a life-raft. Per-
sons who went on the burning steam
er this morning report her boats all
loose, except one, which was hang
ing to the ships side, one end of the
boat having been caught in the rig
ging, preventing its being launched.
The mate of the ship Fusi-Yuma,
which was laying about a quarter of
a mile from the Waco, reports seeing
a boat with persons in it pass his
vessel at three o'clock this morning,
going westward. He could not say
that there were other boats. The
sea was running very high at the
time. The steam tug Bncktborn was
dispatched otside this morning aud
has been coasting in sight of land
all day. She is reported outside yet.
$50 p. M.-Parties who have been
out ON the gulf shore to the western
extremity of the island, have just re-
turned and bring DO intelligence of
the missing boats. The agents of
the line have telegraphed to Indiana
la and Brownsville, notifying vessels
TO be on the lockout for them.
Up. N-One of the pilot DO ats
which has been outside all day, has
Just returned aud brings no things.
Parties frem down the island saw a
farmer from near San Luis Pass. who
reports having seer q small boat pass
down this morning, which, from his
description, it is thought may have
been one of the boats from the Wa
co. 1t was some distance out in the
gulf aud be could not distinguish
persons ia it, but be saw what appear
ed to be temporary sails. The boat
was drifting rapidly westward.
$50 P. M-The steam tug Buck
thorn has Just arrived and brings the
following additional particulars: Her
officers stopped at the fleet, when
going out, to ascertain from the differ
ent vessels lying near where the
Waco was burned all the information
possible relative 10 Ler passengers
and crew. Only one of them, the
steamer Fnsi-Yuma, could give any
information. Her officers report hav-
ing seen what appeared to be a raft
pass them. They made an effort to
launch one of their boats, but before
ii could be done the raft was lost
sight of in the storm aud darkness.
The officers of the Buckthorn report,
twelve miles west and five miles from
shore, passing the forenas. and fore
Yards of the Waco, with sails attach
ed, which bad burned off just above
the deck, and they think this is what
was taken for a raft by the Fusi-Yu
ma. Tbe Bucktborb went twenty
miles west and could find no trace of
the missing boats.
8 7. M.-Ihe steamer Clinton is
Just in from ~lndiaaola, and brings
no ews. The agent of the Mallory
Line is arranging tonight 10 despatch
another steamer at daylight, with
hopes Of finding the Waco's boats
lower down the coast. The wind
changed to the northwest about two
O'Clock, and it is thought if the boats
bad not made a landing on the west
ern coast they have been carried out
many miles TO sea 1t is stated that
the life-boats are all supplied with
water, but it is thought the officers
or passengers did not secure aDy pro-
visions for the boats. There is no
reliable Information to be obtained as
to the origin Of the fire. There were
heavy showers of rain early 10 the
night. with lightning. Some think
the ship was struck by lightning. and
having q considerable quantity of oil
aboard, the flames could not be ex-
tinguished. The agents of the line
state that there were forty-seven or
forty-eight persons on board the Wa
co, including passengers, officers and
crew. Crowds have gathered ut the
company's Office throughout the dav
to learn the latest news. There is
much dissatisfaction at the conduct
Of the officers and e on board the
other vessels, which were all LAYING
in sight. and a number of which were
lying very near the burning steamer.
With the exception of the efforts
made by the Fusi-Yuma, there does
not appear to have been anything
done toward saving those on the
Waco. There excuse is the terrible
sea, which would have swamped their
boats bad they succeeded in launch