Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-10

| to Galveston via Key West, anchored with fleet
outside the BAR on the sth inst, caught fire at one
O'Clock this morning, strong northeast wind
| blowing at the time. At 8 a. m, the passengers,
officers and crew took to open boats, and were
| last seen bearing down the coast westerly Steam
tugs cruising for them and carriages have been
sent down the beach.
LATER.
TIE Steamship City of Waco was valued at
$3.50 900 and partially nsuicd NV Ioik
md Europe. She was three quarters full OF
freight, which was general merchandise and was
valued at 100000. She was built in 1873 at
Chester, Penn.
Galveston, November .. The City of Waco,
which had burned to the waters edge with her
hull rolling in heavy sea, sunk at p. M, to-
day in seven iathoms OF water. The vessel and
cargo are a total loss. The wind, this morning,
was blowing a gale. The passengers and crew
put OIL in the ships boats, OF which she had four,
and life raft. Persons who went near the burn
ing steamer this morning, report that her boats
were all cast loose except one, which was hang
ng to the ships SIDE one end of the boat having
caught in the rigging, preventing its being
launched.
The mate of the ship Fusgama, which was II
of a mile from the Waco, reports seeing boat
with persons In 1t pass his vessel at o'clock this
morning, going westward. lie could not say
whether there any other boats. The sea was
running very high at the time.
Steam tug Buck Thorn was despatched out
side this morning, and has been coasting in sight
of land all dav. Persons who have been out of
the gulf, to the western extremity of the island
have just returned, and bring no intelligence OF
the missing boats.
Up. m.-Parties from Iowa island saw a farmer
from near San Louis pass, who reports that he
saw, this morning, saw small sail boat pass
down, which, from his description, is thought
may have been one of the boats from the Waco.
The boat was drifting rapidly to the westward.
$50 p N. The steam tug Buck Thorn has just
arrived, and brings the following additional par
ticulars
Her officers report having seen what appeared
to be raft pass them. They made effort to
launch one of their beats, but before it could be
done, the raft was lost to sight in the storm and
darkness
The officers Of the Buck Thorn report about
II miles west and miles from the shore, passing
the foremost and toreyards of the Waco, with
sails attached, which had burned off just above
the dc ok, and they think that this is what was
taken for raft. The Buck Thorn went twenty
miles west aad could find no trace Of the missing
boats.
Sp. m. The steamship Clinton is just from In
dianoa and brings no news.
The agent Of the Mallory Line is arranging to-
night to despatch another steamer at daylight,
with hopes of finding the Waco boats lower down
the coast. The wind changed to northwest about
O'Clock, and 1t is thought that if the boats have
not made landing on the western ceast, they
hBve been carried many miles out to sea.
III Is stateQ tnat the lie boats are all suppNeQ
with water, but it is thought that the officers or
passengers did not secure any provisions for the
boats.
There is no reliable information to be obtained
as TO the origin OF the fire. There were heavy show
crs of ra in early in the night, with occasional
lightning. Some think that the ship was struck
by lightning and having considerable quantity of
OIL on board the flames could not be extinguished.
There is much dissatisfaction expressed at the
conduct Of the officers and men on board of other
vessels, which were lying in sight, and number
of them very near the burning steamer With the
exception of the efforts made by the Fusgama,
there does not appear to have been anything done
towards saving the lives Of those board the
Waco. Their excuse is the terrible sea, which
would have swamped their boats had they sue
ceeded in launching them.
LATEST.
From all the information possible to obtain to
the present hour, 90 p. M it seems the W AGO
was living with her head 10 the gale, and the fire
winch first appeared forward, on deck-had
caught in large quantity Of oil, and swept over
the vessel, burning everything before it. Is ves-
sells were lying at anchor, ID Of which were TO the
eeward. The sur position is that if any of the
passengers or crew had appeared on deck or any
boats been launched, they would have been seen
by some of the other vessels, none of which can
confirm the first rumors of seeing the boats pass
drought the feet. The impression is now gain
ing ground that not soul on board the i'll tated
We. sci il alive.