The New York herald., 1879-10-24
Destruction of the Spanish Steamer
Pajara del Oceano.
\ MIDNIGHT HORROR.
From Cruel Flames to Mer'
ciless Waves.
SUFFERINGS OF THE SURVIVORS.
Forty Persons Believed to Have
PeriShed.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
New ORLEANS Oct. 23, 1870.
The English steamer Louise H., Captain
Voss just arrived from Algers, Africa, brings
seventeen unfortunate men, picked up at sea,
who are the sole survivors of the Spanish
steamer Nuevo Pajaro del Oceano, which was
burned at sea early in the morning of Saturday
October Is.
IN PERILoUs PLIGHT.
Captain Voss reports that about nine
o'clock of the evening of that day, as
hama Channel, hail was heard, and on
its being repeated the engine of the Louise II.
was stopped and tho watch OH deck endeavored
to discover whence the voice proceeded. On
lowering boat they found five men clnging to
o kind of raft, made by lashing hen coop
two panks. The men were in terrible state
of destitution and spoke but little English.
On being asked if any more of their
comrades were in the water they stated that
| there had been originally fifty-seven in the
| ships company and that it was supposed that
number of them were still afioat in the neigh
borhood of the raft from which the survivors
were taken.
| SEARCHING FOR OTHER SURVIVORS.
| The steamer was at once put about,
| and, after going a mile and watching as
/ <bav hoo
faint cries. Fortunately the sea was not
running high at the time and there was
no difficulty in rescuing all the persons they
were able to find. Cruising around up
to twelve o'clock, Captain Voss was able to
pick up seventeen unfortunate beings, who
were clinging to oars and bits of wood, OF any
thing else that they could hope would
sustain them in the water, which
every moment threatened to sweep them
to their death. 1t is supposed, from the sound
of the voices which hailed the Louise H., that
there were more persons in the water than were
afterward rescued. but in the distress which sur
rounded them the survivors were unable to tell
whether all of their companions succeeded in
getting on board. Captain Voss continued to
cruise in the neighborhood until morning
than those discovered the night previous.
TERRIBLE MIDNIGHT CRY.
| The story of the disaster, as far as it can be
gathered from the captain Of the lost steamer,
is as follows 1.-THE unfortunate vessel
| which he commanded was q wooden sidewheel
steamer which at one time was used as o
transport for troops She left Havana bound
for Nuevitas ON the 10th of October, and on
| the morning of the 18th of October, Mt
about four o'clock in the morning
tho alarm Of fire was given. The
Captain, on reaching the deck, discovered
that the steamer was completely enveloped
in flames In the terror and confusion
which ensued every one ON board jumped
into the sea in whatever clothing they
happened to have ON, grasping whatever
posed might keep them aioat.
| AN INFLAMMABLE CARGO
The vessel, it is said, had large quantity of
inflammable matter aboard Of her, both coal
oil and gunpowder. The fire was soon raging
in the widest violence, that it was inn
possible to get the boats afoat or to save any
thing.
Nothing is known as to the origin of the
fire.
| DEATH IN THE FLAMES.
The vessel was soon burned to the water and
some of those who were aboard it is supposed,
must have perished in the flames.
STRUGGLING FOR LIFE
The rest of these unfortunates were left
struggling i'll the water. They saw in the after
small Spanish gunboat steam by, but too far
distant to be hailed.
| One woman, stewardess, was sustained on
the raft for some time, but finally she rcn-
quished her hold and dropped into the water.
ESCAPING THE SHARKS.
The second mate and companion had mar
row escape from sharks, which were seen in
great numbers all around them.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
NEW ORLEANS, La, Oct. %, 1879.
The seventeen persons rescued by tho steamer