Fire on the High Seas
A stowaway on the bark Lady Lampson, bound for the Pacific Northwest, nearly destroys the ship with a fire and a razor.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
About ten days prior to the arrival of the bark Lady Lampson from Honolulu, a most startling affair took place on board, which came very near settling the vessel, with all hands. A steerage passenger took his bed, blankets and truck down the after-hatch, where he evidently intended to settle during the trip. About 9 o'clock on the evening in question, one of the lady passengers smelt fire and gave the alarm to Capt. Marston, who immediately searched the vessel. On examining the locality of the hatch, flames were observed, and all hands were immediately got to work, but it was only by the greatest exertions that the fire was extinguished. Capt. Marston's hands were severely burned and injured in his endeavors to save the vessel. Immediately after the excitement was over, a vigorous search was made for the author, and after a long time he was found in the fore-peak, having in his possession a razor, evidently intending to do more mischief. He was secured, however, and put in irons, and was delivered over to the authorities here for examination as to his sanity. He is said to be a Spaniard, named Pedro Romero.
“Immediately after the excitement was over, a vigorous search was made for the author, and after a long time he was found in the fore-peak, having in his possession a razor, evidently intending to do more mischief.”
This 1880 report of a mental health crisis at sea highlights the era's reliance on 'insanity' as a catch-all explanation for violent behavior, a common theme in period news. Today, maritime safety remains a critical concern in the Puget Sound, though handled with modern emergency protocols and mental health awareness that this captain and his crew could scarcely have imagined.
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