The New York herald., 1875-09-01
A FIRE AT SEA.
The Coal Schooner Aurehe
AblaZe on the Ocean.
Four Days and Five Nights in an
Open Boat.
MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION.

tragic story OF the is told in the following ac-
count of disaster to the schooner Aurele OF Quebec
whose crew after the ships destruction by nre endured
great suffering and hardship and finally picked up
in two open boats by the ship Moonlight, bound for
Boston
The narrative OF the circumstances which led to tho
accident the terrible voyage in the boats the statements
of the two captains, well complete list OF the
and nationaes of the survivors, will be found
the sequel
CAPTAIN OCTAVE coTR's STORY.
'T the captain OF the i'll fated schooner the Aure
lie. She good and worthy craft, of fine build,
model, &c, her burthen being 54S tons On Friday,
April 49, the Aurele left Liverpool feighted heavily
with COAL and proceeded directly to Barbados to await
further orders We arrived Barbados in safety the
ship making good time and the health of all on board
being exceptionally good When reached this port
found orders awaiting me to proceed to the river La
Plata with my cargo speedily as possible | left
Barbados on the Goth of June. For seven days
after our departure we had good breeze, and the
schooner forged her way under the best possible cond
tions. The wind was L. N E. After this however the
temperature fair, but exceedingly dry and hot
may be able to give you idea of the intense heat
when say that for eighteen days in July made only
two knots an hour. On Saturday, August 90
DISCOVERED
1t was undoubtedly produced by spontaneous combus-
tion. first became of 1t between the hours Of
six and eight P. NJ. I gave orders at once that we
should still hold our port tack for the La Plata stiff
breeze encouraged me to believe that we could reach
port without sacrificing single life board
The fire generated but little smoke; but
the gas escaping from the hold terrible to endure
Soon after the discovery of the FIRE ordered iron
rod to be sent down through the GOALS and after 1t had
been there few moments ordered 1t to be pulled up
again. My order was readily obeyed the seamen under
me showing the most commendable presence of mind,
and when the rod up 1t was blazing red hot This
at once led to believe that the fire had been burn
ing for long time before 1t discovered, and
ond probing of the rod aft gave understand that
from prov the entire bottom of the vessel
Of livid Goals.
SEVEN DAYS ON P1RI
For whole week the fire gradually gained headway,
while to prevent the intensity of the heat ordered the
pumps keep working hoping the leaking Of
the vessel might do something toward extingushng
the flames All this avaied nothing. The fire still
kept
GAINING HEADwAY.
The gas finally drove all board from their quarters
and at last, when the life of every on board was
imperilled and when discovered that the ship was
gradually sinking, ordered the boats to be lowered
over her sides. The crew behaved splendidly, and
during these most critical hours preserved the best
courage and presence of mind. When the decks
almost level with the surface of the water or
dered all to leave the ship and repair to the two open
boats then tossing hther and thther on the tide This
was August Z, at five P. NJ We laid alongside the
burning ship until the waters rolled over her and she
went down; then we found ourselves alone on open
IN two open boats, miles upon miles away from
land
TERRIBLE JOURNEY
Then awful storm set in. All were discouraged
and disheartened Great black clouds obscured the
daylight and the rain fell down in torrents The sea
was lashed into foamy whteness, and our little barks
each instant in danger of being capszed My wife
at the time in very delicate health, her confinement
being at hand For four days and I've nights four
teen OF lived In the two open boats, when thank
God sail was seen and the good ship Moonlight came
to our reiof"
The rest Of the story can be learned from the follow
ing
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN wArERHoUsE
am the captain Of the ship Moonlight On August
west beheld two small boats TO lecward saw
that they were in distress, and hove up to them
as speedily as possible picked them both up
found that they had suffered very much and that
Captain Coe's wife was in an exceedingly delicate
dition did all could to make them comfortable and
am glad that by chance became the instrument for
saving many valuable lives. Captain Cote's wife
has given birth TO fine boy.
TRUE HERoISM
1t will be from the above that Captain Charles
Waterhouse is of few words; indeed, it only
with reluctance that he spoke as much as he did But
the rescued crew speak Of him hero and say they
owe their lives TO him. Nothing, they say that would
add to their comfort forgotten overlooked and
Captain Cote named his newly born babe Charles
Waterhouse Cote in honor of the noble fellow, without
the timely aid OF whom neither his father nor mother
nor in fact any of the rescued fourteen would have
survived TO tell the story of the burning of the Aure
because the next day after they picked up the
Moonlight caught in hurricane which greatly in
jured her and which certainly would have sent to he
bottom the fral little boats in which the fourteen
ahoat
SURVIVORS.
The names of the rescued parties are as folows:-
Octave Cote, Quebec captain; James Bailey, county
Down, mate; Aphonse Cote, Quebec, second mate;
VIM. Boulet, Quebec, cook and steward; NJ Cunning
ham, Ireland; Thomas Coady Newfoundland; Charles
Hansen, Liverpool Daniel Murray, Massachusetts,; H.
Wilson, Newfoundland; John Nckerson, Shelbourne;
Henry +. Clark, Midon; VIM Themings, Woodbridge,
and John McCurrey, Scotland seamen; Josia Booker
Carew, Barbados, boy Senivlle Cote Mrs. Augustine
Cote.
The ship Moonlight arrived safely in this port and
now lying of Congress Stores Brooklyn.
THE STEAMBOAT Collision