New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-11

DISASTERS.


GALVESTON, November l0.-The steamer
Buck Thorn was dispatched outside again
at three O'Clock this morning in search of the
missing passengers and crew of the City of
Waco. She will cruise west sixty miles
along the coast before returning. Capt ,iu
j. M. Sawyer, agent OF the Mallory line,
also started on board of one of the pilot
boats in search of the missing boats
The only hopes now entertained for the
safety of the passengers and crew are based
upon the statement of Captain Irvine. of
the steamer Buck Thorn, who saw the fore
mast while out yesterday. He reported the
end OF the mast was burned of apparently
between decks, or very close below the
floor OF the upper deck, which indicates the
fire Was below, between decks, 10 which
case the fire may have been burning some
time, and given the officers. crew and pas
sengers ample time to have lett the ship be-
fore the flames reached the upper deck and
were discovered by the other vessels.
1t is thought the passengers and crew
may have escaped in the darkness on board
the ships small boats before tho fire on
board was seen from the Fusiyuma and
steamship San Marcos In this event they
would have dritted with the sea, about
thirty or forty miles westward, be fore the
wind changed to the northwest.
There is another statement which would
appear to confirm the location of the fire.
4uo Slty VI w dco Ddu d sudll WOOu6Q { l66
or house built around the foremast, where
matches, etc, were stored. This casing
reached up on the mast four feet, and above
the top of it u 9 mast was grained, below it
was only painted white.
The foremost was evidently burned of be-
low deck. On the upper deck, forward
large quantities of oil were stored. As
soon as tho flames reached this, the entire
upper portion of the vessel was swept by
the flames. The officers of the San Marcos,
a steamship lying in the fleet, state that the
fire was fret discovered about two O'Clock.
Nothing was discovered wrong with the un-
fortunate ship until she appeared wrapped
in a sheet of flame. Nothing was seen of
her boats or passengers and crew. The re-
turn of the pilot boat and steamer outside
are anxiously looked for. 1t is thought they
will be in late tonight.
A Report from the British Steamship
Abdiel.
The steamer Abdiel has Just come from out
side. She was anchored directly to lee ward
of the Waco. Her mate reports the fire was
discovered about halt-past twelve, and the
ship appeared to be one mass of flames
The officers of the Abdiel Immediately or
dered steam up, and their small boats in
readiness for assistance.
The mate states he heard cries of distress
from five or six persons in the water. One
was the voice of woman or child. They
were clinging to what appeared to be spar
or piece of one of the vessels masts. The
sea was breaking over the Abdiel. The
mate went aft and saw the spar again, but
every soul had been washed off of it. As
soon as steam could be made the Abdiel
moved up alongside the burning ship,as near
as her officers dare go. They state that not
person was to be seen on her, and they
do not think it possible for one of her small
boats to have been launched. The Waco
was rolling Iearfully in the storm. Sparks
and cinders were flying over and past the
lights in their small boats, and had them in
readiness to launch. Her crew were on tbs