The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-26
A LURID GLARE UPON THE SEA.
Burning OF The Steamship leo aud Two
Lady Passengers-Twenty-twO Others
Supposed to be Lost.

Burning OF The steamship E.eo aud Two
Lady Passengers-Twenty- two Others
Supposed to be Lost.
The Savannah alorning Meps, publishes
the following details of the appalling dis.
aster to the Leo brief account of
which has appeared in our telegraphic
columns
Mr.. G. c. Wildman, the purser of the
Leo, reached the city on Saturday night,
about half past 10 o'clock, with some Of
the survivors of the ill-fated vessel, on
the pilot boat Neca, from Tybee, to which
they had been transferred by the bark
that rescued them.
The steamship Leo left Savannah on
Thursday, the 18th, at o'clock p. M,
for Nassau. On Friday morning, about
8 o'clock, whilst q terrific sea was rolling,
it was discovered that some Of the freight
between decks had got loose and was
pitching about. The matches we're
opened for the purpose of securing tho
freight, when to the horror Of the crew
angry forked tongues of fire shot out, en-
circled with volumes of smoke. The
hose waJ at once brought into requisition,
but the fierceness of the gale, tanning the
flames, which had already obtained con-
siderable headway, rendered unavailing
their most strenuous efforts, and Capt.
James Daniels, who, with his officers,
was active, ordered the lifeboats to be
lowered. 1t was apparent that the fire
was not only in the hold, but had forced
itanlf amidships and between decks, and
tue ship was doomed.
The captain, with several Of the off,
GERS, hurried to the forward deck for the
purpose of securing the life-raft, which
was on the captains cabin, and dis.
patched aft another gang under the com.
lnand of the chief engineer, to assist in
lowering tho boats. The fire had In
creased fearfclly, and breaking out fierce
ly amidships, entirely cut off communi-
cation between the two gangs. II was
now apparent to all that only the inter-
position Of Providence could save them
from the terrible fate of being burned to
death, or being drowned.
In the cabin were two middle aged To-
dies, the Misses Harrington, natives of
Nassau, and members Of wealthy and
prominent family in that province, who
were on their way home after visit to
the North and Savannah. They were
both in feeble health, and efforts were
made to get them out, but owing to the
fearful rolling of the ship and the rapid
ity with which the flames spread, the
efforts were unavailing, and it is almost
certain that they perished in the flames.
The only other passenger was Mr.. Pa
pendick, of New York, who, it is sup.
posed, aroused by the commotion on
deck, came up, and thus got into one of
the life boats; but whether he was saved
or not, is matter of doubt.
Capt. Daniels with his party, who were
forward. managed to lower the life raft.
when thirteen succeeded in getting on
board of 1t. The stewardess who was on
deck was called to jump to the ,aft, and
in attempting to do this fell into the sea,
and despite every effort TO secure her, was
drowned. She disappeared beneath the
waves, and was seen no more. The par
ties on the raft were huddled together in
cramped position, nearly naked, cold
and shivering, and their situation was
extremely perilous, the unpleasant con-
viction being that their tenure of life was
very uncertain. Fer time they were
bufetted about in terrible manner.
One heavy sea completely capsized the
fragile raft, tn: =, wing the hapless occ,,.
pants iEto the sea; they frantically
scrambled upon it again, but one unfor-
tunate man, Martin McQuade, belonging
to the crew was washed overheard and
lost, it being utterly impossible for the
cronching, trembling, shivering men on
the raft to do anything tc save MIN.
After most horrible time, drifting
hither and thither at the mercy of the
waves, the despairing men were cheerei
by the sight of vessel bearing down
upon them, which in short time reached
their craft and rescued them. This ves-
sci proved to be the Russian bark Hop
petit, Capt. Fredrickssen, bound from
London to Bull River South Carolina.
The captain discovered the smoke from
the burning steamship Leo, bore towards
her to ascertain tha cause and thus ran
fortunately upon the hapless party.
They were taken on board in an ex.
hausted condition, but the lively synipa-
thies of Capt. Fredrickssen and his men
were elected, and in q short time the
rescued men were made as comfortable as
possible.
Owing to the darkness and the terrible
surroundings the rescued party saw
nothing of those who got into the life
boats, but the supposition is that they
must have been driven off in another d.
rection, and it is feared were all lost, as
they were not seen the next day. There
is possibility, however, that they may
all have been rescued, or at least por.
tion of them, as the disasuer occurred d.
reciiy in the course of vessels coming to
Savannah OK Dohoy from foreign ports,
being about eighty miles south Of Tybee.
a bark which was eighted IL The wake of
the Hoppett, Immediately after the rescue
of the parties from the little raft, arrived
at Tybee yesterday afternoon, and re-.
ported that she had seen nothing Of the
missing boats.
The following is list Of those who
| were picked up by the Russian Finn bark
Hoppett, Capt. Frederick Olo Fredricks-
Gen: Capt. James n,niels, Pnraer g. q.
Wildman, G.. ". Olsen, first officer, legs
badly burned N. Lindman, second off,
very badly burned Robert Rankin, sea-
man; John II. Leonard, first assistant
engineer; Johu Walsh, oiler; Pierce
Rover, fireman; Felix Shalvey, fireman
d. w. Sylvera, steward; James Ferrow,
waiter; Thc:.ss 4Ss5os, saiitteT.
The following persons LEFT the ship in
tho two boats and arc supposed to be lost,
i as i,0thing has been heard of them and q
fearful see was running: Mr.. Papendick,
passenger; p. Mcdonnell, chief engineer
Thos. =. Hennessy, carpenter; Jas. Nc
Laughlin, oiler; Dan Ryan, Christopher
Lee, Patrick McGough, firemen Samuel
Hurst, Peter Olopson, James Murray,
seamen; Wellington Mitchell, cook, col
ored; Henry Harris, second cook, color