Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-13


then commanding the United States squadron
in the China seas. After landing Mr., CuSh-
ing, Captain Newton had a rowing commits
sion to cruise in the Mediterranean and the
Baltic. For is months previous to sailing
10 Europe the Missouri had been attached
to the home squadron and cruised along our
entire Atlantic coast, visiting successively
all the important ports from Maine to
Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, touching
at Vera Cruz and Havana, besides lying at
the National Capital, Washington, several
months, to allow the Cabinet Officers, heads
of Departments and members of Congress to
see and inspect this wonderful ship, which
attracted so much attention.
Thousands of citizens had been enter
tanned on board, and 1t was with feeling of
national pride that she was sent abroad,
from the fact that the Missouri and her sis
ter ship, the Mississippi, were the largest
naval steamships then afoat in the world
and bearing the heaviest armament. The
Missouri was perfect specimen of naval
architecture OF ZOO TONS with two inclined
engines OF GOO horsepower, with four copper
boilers bark-rigged, heavily spared, was
capable of keeping the seas under canvas
alone, steam being used only as an auxiliary
power when needed. This magnificent ship,
being the first naval armed steamship to
cross the Atlantic Ocean, to be exhibited to
the powers of Europe, stimulated the pride
of the ship company to the highest degree.
Her officers were distinguished as gallant
gentlemen. No finer crew had ever been
mustered on the deck of vessel, while her
engineers, then new and important officers
to The naval service, were thoroughly
skilled in all their duties.
A BALL AT FAYAL.
Gibraltar was to have been our first port,
but running near the Azores, or Western
Islands, Captain Newton, by general solci-
tation, consented to touch at Fayal, where
we remained two days, during which time
we were magnifcently entertained by our
Consul, Mr.. Dabney, and his delightful
and gracious family. Full of research and
ardent OF exploration Mr. Gushing on the
first day visited the extinct volcanoes found
on the island, and on the second day crossed
to the Island of San Miguel and made the
ascent of the peak OF Pico, 1900 feet high
a cone rising abruptly out of the ocean.
The Portuguese authorities, many Of our Of
hcerS, and large party OF citizens ac-
companied Mr.. Gushing on these excursions.
Prof Webster, OF Harvard College, then
visiting relatives residing on the island
who was afterward hanged for numbering
DR.. Parkman, Of Boston, which created such
a profound social scandal, was one OF the
party. He impressed himself upon us as a
most learned and accomplished gentleman,
remarkable for possessing the most agreea-
bic and exceptional conversational powers.
On the return of the party at the close of
the second day, dinner and a grand ball
was given in Mr.. Cushing's honor, at the
Consulate, by Mrs. Dabney. We were to
sail the next morning early. Mr.. Cushing
did not come on board until after midnight,
greatly fatigued; before daylight he sent to
my stateroom a manuscript which took
half hour to read. The paper was truly re-
markable for the vivid, comprehensive pict-
ure of the islands il gave in detail, as the
result of his two days observations-the
geography, history. topography, geology,
productions and commerce of the Azores.
1t was handed TO Consul Dabnev when he
came ou board to take his leave of u.s. to be
sent home and the article subsequently, ap
We steamed away from Fayal to GibraI- |
ter, arriving at the latter place in the early
afternoon of a delightful day. Our coming !
was as unexpected as the aStonishment |
created byit. This surprise was not limited |
TO the large English squadron, commanded |
by Sir George Sartorius (Admiral of the |
Blue), but was shared by the Danish squad |
ron lying there and other foreign vessels of |
war and merchantmen. 1t extended as well |
to the garrison and people on shore. AS the |
majestic Missouri steamed up the harbor at |
a ten-knot speed Cher band playing a ma |
tional air) through the numerous shipping,
hundreds of glasses were leveled at us, in |
coming to anchor, every evolution was exc |
cuted with precision and in a style only |
known to Yankee sailors, was watched by |
all with absorbing interest; indeed, no such |
steamship had before been seen.
THE BURNING FRIGATE.
On the evening of the second day after our |
arrival the ship was coaling and her engines |
being overhauled and disconnected, the |
head of cylinder out was being replaced |
and tamped, many of the officers being on
shore Mr.. Gushing, Captain Newton and |
the writer were dining with the American |
Consul, Mr.. Horatio Sprague, when sud- |
denly from the street was heard the alarm
ing cry: "El vapor del frigate Americana es
del fuego" (the American steam frigate is /
on fire. Rushing hastily to the water wall |
we could plainly see our ship. At first
sight the flames appeared as high as her
and seemed to mark her inevitable
doom.
Fortunately, just as we reached the mole
the captains gig came alongside and we
were pulled of in the shortest possible time
to the ship, mile distant. As we ap-
we could hear the pumps working
The crew were at quarters and through the
ports the lurid glare of the fire was reflected
from within. Such, however, was the dis
cipline and order maintained on board. as
we came near the marine sentry in the
mizzen chains gave imperturbably the usual
challenge. "Ship ahoyI' answered by Capt
ain Newton from the fullness of an op-
pressed heart and with an agoHizing accent
of despair, Missouri"
In an instant four side boys appeared with
lanterns at the ladder, and we passed on
board with all the usual honors, being re-
ceved by the executive officer, Lieutenant
Simon B. Bissell, as calmly as if the crew
had been at ordinary exercise. So far every
thing possible under the circumstances had
been done, but at that moment there was
the most imminent danger of the fire CON-
with the forward magazine.
The fire had originated in the engine room,
down almost to the keelson, and had spread
through a man-hole in a water-tight bulk
head into the engineers store-room. con-
tanning stores of the most infammable
character, such as oils, turpentine and
oakum. The fact that the forward magazine
was in danger was well known to the whole
ships company, vet every man was doing
his duty as coolly as if engaged in washing
down decks
When it became doubtful as to saving the
ship an order was given to send Mr.. Cush-
ing and his effects, together with the ships
papers and treasure. ashore. A battle of