Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-17
THE BURNING TRANSPORT.
An English Naval Officers Story.


An English Naval Officers Story.
The feet lay off " North Fleet Hope, -
awaiting the flag of Rear Admiral COT
fin, who had been appointed to succeed
the gallant Collingwood, and, heavy
gale prevailing at the time, the ships
were rising to the wind, regardless of
tide, when night closed around us.
Some thirty sail of merchantmen, un-
der convey of one of our fastest frigates.
were anchored in the entrance of the
Downs, and between us and them lay
two convict ships, while fleet of trans
ports, with troops for the East Indies,
were anchored just astern of us, the
largest--the Wellesley-being anchored
on our starboard quarter, and scarcely
three cables length distant
Being senior passed Midshipman of
the old Sovereign at the time, l was
honored with supreme command of a
whole anchor watch, and, having the
first watch that night, enjoyed the hap
plness % OF struttlng the quarterback
exposed to the wind and rain, while my
more humble, and consequently more
fortunate, watch mates sought shelter in
the lee of the bulwarks, or, slowed snug
~ away beneath the guns, whiled away
the dreary watch with warns of dangers
and battles passed.
1t had Just struck three bells. and.
save the measured tread of the sentinels
on duty, the pattering of the driving
rain and the deep breathings of full6OO
sleepers, scarce a sound broke the 81
lence reigning throughout the vast hull
OF the old Sovereign. Even I had halt
ed, half deeming our dreary watch at an
end, and half supported by the cabin
skylight was indulging in visions of calm
repoSe.
While standing thus, with face avert
ed from the driving storm, deep red
CLEAN Illuminated the darkness on our
starboard quarter, increasing so rapidly
that ere minute elapsed the upper
works, lower masts and yards of the Wei
lesley were plainly defined in the red
glare. In an instant the truth flashed
upon me, she was on fire; and, bound
ing to the skylight, I shouted:
Forward gun Of the starboard for
ward division on the spar-deck! Fire !"
1t was our signal gun, and kept con-
tinually loaded, so that my order was
obeyed in an instant, while followed
up the report with the order, "Bo'sen's
mate, pipe all hands to quarters"
The First Lieutenant was at my side
ere the sound of the mates shrill whistle
had ceased reverberating on our main,
gun and berth decks, when he Instantly
OWNED tho cause of the alarm, and, as
Stunning command, shouted: Fire
fire Pipe down all boats Waist and
afterguard, pass the engines up from be-
low Topmen, hook yard and stay
tackles. Forecastle men and sail-trim-
mers, pass the messenger and take to-"
In an instant all was hustle and prep
aration, and ere lapse of two minutes
the report Of messenger passed" was
followed by that of "boats all ready,
when Capt. Wilmer, who had gained the
deck, shouted: "Oficers in charge of
boats, to your stations Bo'sen, pipe
all boats away!" sprang from the rail,
grasping the yard tackle. end in an in
slant later landed IN the launch, of which
I had command. We then fell off, and
In few moments were scudding swiftly
toward the burning ship. It is almost
needless to add that our example was
followed by the various commanders in
the fleet, and on dropping alorgside the
Wellesley we mustered n feet of some
sixty boats, capable OF accommodating
at least 900 hands, q la,;, number, fort
unately, than were placed in peril.
The moment the first boat reached the
transport the work of debarkation COM
menced, but, owing to the tremendous
gale and heavy sea, progressed but slow
ly, while the rapid advance CT the fire
drove numbers from the deck to seek
safety in the sea, from which they were
rescued as promptly as possible.
Il was truly a thrilling scene The
hull of the transport was evidently con-
verified into a perfect volcano, while from
each of her matches leaped tongue of
fame, which, Selling on her fresh-taTred
rigging, transformed the whole mass in
to delicate tracery OF fire, ap' speedily
consuming it, left her taut spars to tum-
BILE one after another over the stern,
killing and wounding a number in their
descent.
The catastrophe, although resulting
In death to many, proved a means of
safety to many others, who might other
wise have persisted, as it established
direct means of communication with
many of the boats which could not gain
a position alongside. And thus the
work went on, boat after boat departing
with its load of scorched, half-naked
and shivering troops, with slight
sprinkling OF women and children, until
nearly all were saved, when the task
commenced of lowering the insenslble
forms of those who had been hurt by
the falling spars in the rush which had
taken place on the discovery of the fire,
or had tainted from excessive fright.
Our boat being scarcely one-third
full, we hauled alongside to receive our
quota of the unfortunate creatures, whom
we handled as tanderly as possihie. Law