The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-15
The Burning Transport
AN ENGLISH NAVAL OFFICERS STORY.

The fleet lay off "North Fleet Hope,'
awaiting the flag of Rear-Admiral Cof-
fin, who had been appointed to succeed
the gallant Collingwood, and, heavy
gale prevailing at the time, the ships
were riding to the wind, regardless of
tide, when night closed around us.
Some thirty sail of merchantmen,
under convoy of one of our fastest
frigates, were anchored in the en-
trance Of the Downs, and between
us and them lay two convict
ships, while a fleet of Transports,
with troops for the East Indies, were
anchored just astern of us, the largest
the Wellesley-being anchored on our
starboard quarter, and scarce three
cables length distant.
Being senior passed midshipman of
the old Sovereign at the time, was
honored with supreme command of a
whole anchor. watch, and having the
first watch that night enjoyed the hap
piness (2) of strutting the quarterback
exposed to the wind and rain, while my
more humble and consequently more
fortunate watchmates sought shelter in
the lee of the bulwarks, or, slowed
snugly away beneath the guns, whiled
hWdy tud uItdTN WutCu Will yarns OF
dangers and battles past.
1t lad just strucs three bells, and
save the measured tread of the sentinels
on duty, the pattering of the driving
rain and the deep breathings of full six
hundred sleepers, scarce sound broke
the silence reigning throughout the
vast hull of the old Sovereign. Even
I had halted, half-leeming our dreary
watch at an end; and, halt-supported by
the cabin skylight, was indulging in
visions of calm repose.
While standing thus, with face
averted from the driving storm, q deep
red CLEAN illumined the darkness on
our stsrboard quarter, increasing SO
rapidly that ere minute elapsed the
upper works, lower mast and yaIds of
tho Wellesley were plainly defined in
the red glare. In an instant the truth
flashed upon me, she was on fire and
bounding to the skyliRht shouted:
"F'orward gun OF the starboard for.
!. ward division on the spar.deck Fire -
u 1t was our signal gun, and kept con.
'5inually loaded, SO that my order was
obey ed in an instant, while l 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 sbr Il whistle
had ceased reverberating on our main,
gun, and berth decks, when he instantly
OWNED the cause of the alarr', and as
suming command, shouted, Sire Pipe
down all boats! Waist and aiyerguard,
pass the engines up from below! Top.
men, hook yard and stay tackles. Fore
L. 4 k,s.~ Al
messenger and take to-"
In an instant all was hustle and
preparation, and ere lapse of two
minutes the report of messenger
passed" was followed by that Of "boats
ell ready when Captain Wilmer, who
had gained the deck, shouted, OIL
GERS in charge of boats, to yoLr stationsl
Bo'sen, pipe all boats away!' 1 sprang
from the rail, grasped the yard tackle,
and in an instant later landed in the
launch, of which had command. We
then fell off, and in few moments
were scuddiug swiftly toward the burn
ing ship. 1t is almost needless to add |
that our example was followed by the |
various commanders in the fleet, and on
dropping alongside the Wellesley We
mustered fleet of some sixty boats |
capable of accommodating at least nine |
hundred hands, larger number, fortu.
nately, than were placed in peril.
The moment the first boat reached |
the transport the work of debarkation
commenced, but owing to the tremen.
dous gale and heavy sea progressed but |
slowly, while the rapid advance of the
fire drove numbers from the deck to |
seek safety in the sea, from which they
were rescued as promptly as pos
sible.
1t was truly a thrilling scene. The |
hull OF tho transport was evidently con.
verted into aperlect volcano, while from
each of her hatches leaped a tongue of |
flame, which. seizing on her fresh tarred |
rigging, transferr, d the whole mass into |
delicate tracery of fire, and speedily
consuming it left her taut spars to
tumble one after another over the stern,
killing aud wounding numbers in their
descent.
This catastrophe, although resulting
in death to many, proved q means OF |
safety to many others who might other
wise have perished, as it established a
direct means of Communication with |
many OF the boats which could not gain
O position alongside. And thus the
work vent on, boat after boat departing |
with its load of scorched, half naked |
and shiyering troops, with q light |