New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-08
burning Of the Goliath.

The London Daily Ncrs, Of the twenty
third of December, gives the following ae-
count of the burning Of the British tralnlpg
ship Goliath:
A terrible disaster occurred on the river
Thames yesterday morning, the Gohath, "a
bOvs on board, being destroyed by tire.
The full extent OF the calamity can not yet
be measured, but many of the boys and one
of the officers are missing, and are thought
either to have been drowned or persisted IN
the flames. The Goliath was an old wooden
liue-of battle ship, which carried eighty
guns, with engines OF AGO horse power.
Some years ago, after laying by IN ord
nary, che was lent by the. Admiralty to the
Poor Law authorities of the metropolis in
order to try the experiment of training the
moor bows of London for the SEA, and was
placed for administrative purposes I'M
der the care of the managers OF the For
rest gate School. She was large ship OF
nearly 5000 tons burden, and, lying solitary
in the blight of the river of Graye, was an
object OF interest to excursiOnists on the
river. At few minutes to eight O'Clock
some were preparing breakfast and others
cleaning the ship, while the bulk OF the lads
were below, many OF them undressed. the
lamp.room, in the fOrecastle of the ship. was
the scene of the outbreak. The lamps used
to light the vessel after dark are ted with
petroleum oil, and it appears to have been
the rule to collect them every morning IN
the lamp-rOom for the purpose OF having
them cleaned and retrimmed. 1t is said
that one of the lamps was accidentally
dropped by lad, and the petroleum
ienited and spread in liquid fire all over
the deck. The alarm was instantly given,
but SO rapid was the spread OF the hre
that when Captain Bourchler, royal
navy, the officer in command, was called
from his cabin, the whole deck was IN
flames. A terrible scene ensued. The horrl-
fed children rushed up from below through
the various hatchwaye. which were with
difficulty kept from being choked up by the
crush and struggle, and as fast as they got
ON deck they hurried to the side of the ship
nearest land as the point OF escape. IN
fortunately it was the most dangerous side
of the ship, for strong s0uthwesterly wind
was blowing full upon her broadslde and
rolled the smoke and flame over in the di-
rection of the shore. the poor lads, how
ever, climbed over the bulwarks and hung
in the chains, and wherever they could get
hold for hand or foot, and the boats OF the
ship being instantly at hand, proceeded to
take them off as fast as possible. Ore or
more were swamped, and as many OF the
lads clinging to the ship were compelled to
drop one after another into the water
there was ample occupation for the
other boats which came to the rescue
to pick up those who were swimming
or drowning. The ship lay only about
q hundred yards from shore, and
good many leaped overheard and swan to
land. amongst whom were two young ladies,
the daughters of Captain BOurchier. The
boats of the training ships Arethusa and
Chichester, lying at Greenhithe, came down
in flotilla to help, in command of Captain
Walters end several officers, and were In
strumentsl in saving many lives. Captain
Bourchier was the last to leave the burning
ahip, and it was his belief that all the lads
were saved, but there is too much reason to
know that he was mistaken, for two bodies
have already been washed ashore, and the
ecbOolmaster, Mr.. Wheeler, lie said to have
sunk. As the survivors were taken on
shore, the people of Graye, small town
of some three thousand inhabitants,
turned out en- masSe to receive them
The echoolroome, places OF worship,
hotels and private houses were placed at
their disposal, while all the coppers and
kettles that could be obtained were pressed
into service to get breakfast for the 40O,
less those who were missing. Kind
hearted people brought clothing Tor the
half-naked little ones, many of whom were
to be seen throughout the day clad in gar
ments of all sizes and of both sexes. An
attempt was made to make muster OF the
lads in order to find out who were missing
but thew were 60 scattered about the town
that the process was unsatisfactory, besides
which some were picked up by ships pass
ing up and down the river and carried TO
unknown destinations, while others, 1t is
believed, have taken advantage OF their
liberty to abscond, SO that it may be some
days before the actual results Will be