According to some sources this ship was not an Inman Line ship, but the Inman's is said to only have acted as her agents in London.
The City of Pittsburg arrived Valparaiso Bay on the night of the 22nd, from Talcahuano, a port in the Bay of Conception, where she had called to fill up with coals. About ten minutes after 3 a.m. on the 24th, flames and dense columns of smoke burst out from the fore-hatchway. From other ships boats were sent, and a Head's portable pump was provided to her assistance, but the ship could not be saved, the fire being occasioned by spontaneous combustion in the coals, of which she had 1240 tons on board. All the crew and passengers were brought out of the ship (several of the latter, women and children) with what little property they could save, by 8.50 a.m. The Captain left her by a rope's-end from the stern, at which time she was in flames fore and aft. The launch was sent at 4 a.m., with a gun to fire at her water line, to hurry the sinking of the unfortunate vessel. The ship had a crew of 108 and 64 passengers, all were saved. The ships continued burning very furiously till 0.30 p.m., when she went down stern foremost, raising her bows so as to show 10 or 12 feet of the keel in 28 fathom water. The vessel and cargo to had been insured for 279,000 dollars; her value being considered at 300,000. She was mastered by Captain Forster
