DREADFUL CALAMITY AT SEA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 8, Issue 637, 22 July 1865, Page 2

DREADFUL CALAMITY AT SEA.

FIVE HUNDRFD, LIVES LOST. (From "Bell's Weekly Messenger," April 22.) THE Now York papers report the destruction by fire of the Federal transport General Lyon, with a loss of over 500 lives, The New York Times gives the following account of the disaster : — " On Wednesday, the 29th ultimo, the General Lyon, a screw steamer, which had formerly been used as a blockade runner, sailed from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe, with nearly 600 persons onboard, including the crew. Her passengers consisted of discharged and paroled soldiers, escaped prisoners, and refugees, amongst whom were about 40 women and 25 small children. Two negroes were among the refugees. The weather was fair on leaving Wilmington, but the steamer put into the port of Smithfield for the night, and resumed her voyage on the following morning. Soon after leaving Smithfield the wind, which was blowing from the south-west, increased in violence, and the vessel made but little progress. At 10 o'clock on Friday morning, when off Cape Hatteras, an alarm of fire was given, and in a few minutes afterwards, the flames broke out at the rear of the pilot-house and nearly in the centre of the vessel. Several of the crew were in the rigging, and there were very few persons on deck, many of the passengers being confined to their berths by sickness, The first mate, James Gibb, and the officers of the vessel immediately got the fire-pumps to work. But the flames steadily gained headway, and soon spread over the centre portion of the deck, driving the crew and those who we^o assisting them to the stern and bow of the vessel. The hatches had been closed in consequence of the ' decks being so constantly under water, but those below, alarmed by the smoke which was spreading through the cabins, rushed on deck only to be driven hack by the flames. The frightful shrieks of the woman and children, aud their piteous supplioations for help, were drowned by the roaring of the storm. Several^ of the paroled soldiers wera sick and confined to their berths. Some of them managed to crawl on deck, and clung there until washed overboard by the waves. In about half-au-hour after the ,fire broke out, the engines partially stopped, and the vessel immediately swung round with her broadside to the wind, the flames then spreading across the deck. It had now become evident that the ship could not be saved. The first officer acted with great courage, and only bandoned the vessel when all hopes of saving her were gone. The fire pumps were still kept at work, and the flames were fought back with great determination. Many of those below were doubtless already suffocated. The shrieks and moans of the dying came up to those on deck, but they could do nothing to help them. Just at this time the United States transport General Sedgwick, Capt. Starkey, and a small schooner hove in sight. But neither of them could render any assistance owing to the violence of the storm, and the fact that the burning steamer had drifted in towards the breakers, The flames were now spreading with fearful rapidity. The boats were launched, although there appeared little hope of their living in such a sea. In the first boat ten men lowered i themselves, including the captain of the General Lyon. It is affirmed by several of those who escaped that the captain had now lost all control of himself, and was evidently crazed with fear. Hardly had this boat been loosed from the vessel's side than she drifted under her stern, was struck by the screw, and almost instantly went down. Irah Lewis, a private in the 89th New York Kegiment, who was in the boat at the time, states that he saw the captain sink. Lewis and and two others escaped. A second boat was launched, and in this twenty-seven persons lowered themselves, and succeeded in reaching the General Sedgwiok, which was about a mile-and-a-half distant. As the boat touched the steamer's side, a wave dashed her violently against it, and she filled and went down. Of the twenty-seven persons in the boat, seven only were saved. Among these were the mate, James Gibb, Barney Losey, of the sth Virginia Regiment, and John Fitzgerald, of the 56th Illinois. In the meantime, a number of the men had thrown themselves overboard, trusting to a spar for support. One man, Isaiah C. Coltby, of the sth Ohio cavalry, after working at the fire pumps until he was almost exhausted, seized one of the doors of the gallery aud sprang overboard. He was in the water for three hours before he was picked up. Others were also in the water for several hours, and many doubtless sank before assistance could be rendered. It is supposed that the schooner did not succeed in rescuing any of them. When the General Sedgwick left, being unable to render further assistance, the illfated steamer was drifting in towards the frightful breakers off Cape Hatteras. She was then burned down to the water's edge, and every soul on board had doubtless perished. The New York Tribune states thai the number known to have been saved was 29, of whom 20 were soldiers and 9 the crew of the ship. Of the 204 of the 56th Illinois Regiment on board all but 4 perished, including all the officers. Not one of the women appears to have been saved,