Year: 1867

Engineer.


From Charleston we have received lists of
the missing and saved passengers of the New
York and Charleston steamer Andalusia,
burned off Cape Hatteras on Sunday last. The
following is the statement of Captain Vest
We left New York in the steamer Anda-
lusia, at $40 p. NJ. on Saturday, March q
1867, with nine cabin passengers and a crew
consisting of twenty-eight persons, and very
large general cargo. Saturday night and Sun
day we had the wind strong from the north
east to north, with rain and heavy sea. On
Sunday evening, at o'clock, while we were
at tea, heard an unusual noise on deck; |
left the cabin to see what was the matter.
When got out on deck the engineers and
fTemen were coming out of the engine room
hatch, crying 'Fire fire 10 The smoke was
coming out at the same time.


lascertained from the assistant engineer,
who had just come out of the engine room,
that the fire was forward Of the boiler. The
hose was pointed down the hatch, and several
men We're working the pumps, when the
flames burst out up the hatch and around the
smoke-staCk, which was less than five minutes
after the fire was discovered. | then ordered
the sails clewed up and laid aback, and the
ship headed for the steamer Manhattan, which
was about three miles on our port bow. The
officers on the Manhattan must have discovered





we were taking in sail, | saw her lights coming
towards us.


We were going ahead at least seven knots.
The fire and smoke had driven every one out
of the engine-roOm before the engine could be
stopped. l then ordered the safety-valve
lifted, which was done by the Chief Engineer
and his First Assistant, by taking an oar and
lifting the safety-valve lever. The oar was
held until it burned in two. Hawsers were
towed over the side in hopes they would foul
the propeller. Finding the fire could not be
kept under, ordered the first officer to take
charge of the starboard after-boat, second mate
starboard forward, and purser port after-boat.


l gave them orders not to permit the boats
to be lowered until the ships headway was
stopped. The two lady passengers were taken
out of the cabin; one gave in charge to Mr..
Norton, first officer, and the other kept with
me, with four other passengers. In a few mo-
ments after giving these orders the second Off
Ger returned and informed me that the star
board forward boat was gone, having been cut
adrift. After getting on board the steamer
Manhattan we found that the boat had been
cut adrift at the time the sails were being
clewed up by two men and mess-boy. Only
the mess-boy was saved.


The port after boat was lowered down bow
first before the ship was stopped. 1t was
swamped. The Purser, second assistant en-
gineer, one passenger, and two tiremen were
WaSneu out OF Jne DOdL ana lOSL. Inc patent
towing apparatus on the port forward boat
broke at the after end, which caused three
passengers, New York pilot, and one other
person to be thrown out of the boat and lost
overheard. They were put in the boat with
a lady passenger and her son, ready for tow
ing, when the ships headway was stopped.


After the ship was stopped the boat was
lowered in the water. Her bow was stove in,
and she filled with water. | had the boat
bailed out by the chief engineer and one of the
cooks. / gave orders to the second officer to
build a raft, which was done with the water
casks, spars, and the doors of the pilot and
other houses. The raft was launched and lay
alongside of the ship. The first officer lowered
his boat as soon as the ship stopped. The
lady passengers were put in the port forward
boat with nine others.


At 1870 p NJ. / got in the boat and pulled
round the ship to see if any one was hanging
to the ship. Just before leaving the ship |
heard the Manhattan's whistle close to us.
When we got on the weather side of the An
dalusia we saw one of the Manhattan's boats
go up to the ship. We spoke them, and in
formed them there were several on board.
Finally, we pulled for the Manhattan, our
boat being half full of water, with tive men
bailing her out with buckets; the bow was
stove in, and by the providence of God we
reached the Manhattan. The sea and wind in
the last two hours had abated, or the boat
would not have lived


When we arrived on board the Manhattan
we found the other boats had been picked up
the first officers boat, the starbOard forward
boat with boy in, and the port after boat with
four fremenC Cthe rest having been washed out)
one Of the men had death grasp on the seats.
The chief officer of the Manhattan, Mr. McCrea,
TO whom too much praise cannot be given
slung himself in bowline, went in the sink
ing boat, and slung the man and got him OF
board. The above facts was informed o
after got on board the ship. The first fifteeI
minutes after the fire broke out the men were
panic-stricken, and all those that were los
were lost in that time, except those that were
lost by the patent lowering apparatus giving
away in the port forward boat.


We succeeded in abating the excitement
and got the men under control, and they be
haved very well after that time. AS we lef
the Andalusia the mainmast and smoke stacl
fell and before the Manhattan left the wrecl
she was enveloped in flames, and in a hal
hour after il set in thick fog. The passen
gers, officers, and crew lost everything bu
what they had on. l take this opportunity @
thanking Captain Charles Collins, his officers
and all belonging to the Manhattan for thei
great kindness to us from the time of on
arrival on board the hOspitable steamer Man
haitian.


The following is the statement of the Chic
Engineer


On BOARD THE STEAMER MANHATTAN, Marc
5.-Captain w. H. West.-Dear Sir:-Accorc
ing to your request l write my statement
the discovery of the fire on board the steam
ship Andalusa about o'clock on the ever
ing of March IL. l was standing at the engine
room hatchway; my first assistant spoke


me from the engine-room, saying there was