The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-18 00:00:00

INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO.

From Singapore we have no local news to corn
municate. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer, Pekin, experienced a severe typhoon between
Hong-Kong and Singapore, 011 the night of Oct. 1,
which nearly proved fatal to her. '1 he following
letter from a passenger describes the awful scene
which occurred during the storm:—
On Monday, 29th Sept., at 2 p.m., we left Hong Kong
with 24 passengers, via., 3 ladies and 21 of the .terner sex,
consisting of a fair sprinkling of all nations, professions, and
avocations. We had a remarkably tine start, and were
congratulating ourselves on the probability of a speedy and
Pleasant passage to Singapore. On Wednesday forenoon,
the lot Oct., the barometer began to fall, with a rising
KS and increasing wind, which, however, blew so
steadily from the same quarter (north-east) that Captain
Baker did not expect more than a strong north-caster,
" the first of the season" in these latitudes, and made
preparations accordingly, observing that should it
turn out a typhoon, according to Piddington, the
course he was then compelled to steer, on account of our
proximity to the Paracels shoals, would bring us into its
centre, and that his only alternative in event of being un-
able to carry on through it, would be to heave to, as soon
as he had left them sufficiently far to leeward, which he cal-
culated would be about 8 p.m. The increasing fall of the
mercury during the afternoon, showed the probability of
his extreme apprehension,, being realised, arid the short
period of daylight remairastg was occupied in making every-
thing snug. At 7 p.m. both wind and sea had increased to
an extent which chewed the wisdom of these precautions.
At 7.40 the shin was rolling fearfully and two line largo
quarter boats were literally blown into the air, the heavy
iron davits, three inches thick, having unapt like Pin-
stems, At 8 p.m. Captain Baker ordered the Tomei

le he hove to, which manoeuvre was exerted after ea
infinite deal of trouble and danger, the whole of the
work having devolved on the captain and officers—
the greater part of the crew (Lawars) Niue hid away.
From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. the gale increased to
a perfect hurritarte, and the most sceptical was satisfied
that we were in a typhoon, and one of no ordinary nature.
At this time no description, hoe ever powerful, could realise
the h wens of our situation. The vessel was pooped three
times, and each visitation was accompanied by a catastrophe.
Oa am occasion Captain Biker, three officers, and the men
at the wheel, were all carried off their teat, and but for the
providential circumstance of the vessel being on the rise at
the time, would, without doubt, have been carried over-
bowl. Indeed, the conduct of thew brave men is beyond
all praise, and to their exertions alone, under God, do we
attribute our being now alive to tell the tale, as it mast have
been evident to any one that it was next to impossible for
a vessel to have been placed in a more critical or haaardmis
situation. la • word, the emergency called tenth the eater-
gies of all, and each in his station did his duty as a man
and a British seaman. It would be injustice here to omit
noticing the eminent services reudered by Mr. Blake, chief
eager, sad his state who were in close attendance
during the whole of this trying night; although they also
saffered from the defection of part of their crew, who fled
iistaltaneously with the Lam:anion deck, thereby throwing
the work on those whose attention was required elsewhere.
They succeeded, however, in keeping the engines working,
through the moot critical part set the night, wher. a stop-
page, however short, might have been attended with fatal
results. The noble vessel, too, seemed instinctively alive,
es it were, to the peril, and most gallantly did she sustain
the unequal strife, and prove the faithfulness of her con-
struction. On deck, when any one, bolder than his fel-
lows, ventured from the saloon, nothing could be seen or
timed moose the tierce blest of the tempest but the clear,
mlni voice of our skilful commander, issuing his orders as
wall) and composedly as if it was a case of no
occurrence; and the equally collected and prompt
responses of his active and energetic °Myers, as they pro-
ceeded to put them in execution—thereby inspiring
the most timid with confidence. At mulnignt the
scene in the saloon was painfully . striking. Without any
exhibition of active fear, it was evident, Irum the low and
rapid whisperings passing between those who were not
Aare de combat, the eager crowding round and anxious in-
quiry of every arrival from the deck, that every man knew
his danger, and felt it, too. After the vessel was pooped
the last time, and the saloon, as before, deluged with water,
she remained entirely motionless for a few seconds, and
then " the boldest held his breath," seeming to cast a glance
of mute inquiry around, the purport of which could not be
misunderstood, In these remarks no implic.etiou of want
of mmeal courage is intended ; on the contrary, the silence
and calmness exhibited was well befitting the occasion, and
though the recollection of this " night of terror " may not
speedily pass from the minds of those present, there are
occasions on recent record of infinitely less risk where the
absence of similar firmness has materially increased the
actual danger. 'rho ladies were happily in ignorance
of the danger until it was over. tnlike Welling-
ton at Waterloo, " daylight under any circumstances"
was now the fervent wish of all; and when Captain
Baksr came down to the saloon fur the first time during the
whole of the gale, at 2.30 a.m., r is look gave us hope that
the worst was past, and this was confirmed by his opinion
that the mercury was rising. Theo, and not till then, did
we. with feelings of lively gratitude for our preservation,
and lightened hearts, proceed to tempt unwilline rest after
this eventful night. Day broke on a must dismal and dis-
tressing mine. Out of seven fine boat., six were miming.
Fore and main topmasts, companion ladders, stanchion
booms, davits, trusses, and many other articles, familiar
only to the initiated, were also wanting, and the deck was
covered with the debris of the wreck. The other casual-
nee reported were the death of a tine Sydney horse, Goliath,
well known on the Hong Kong turf, and our cow, whose
loss was much regretted, besides a tearful mortality in the
sheep pen, stke. As the day advanced, the wind and sea
grailually abated, and long before initleilht we were steam-
ing on our course in safety and comfort, thanks to him who
holds the waters in the hollow of his hand. At noon, baro-
meter 29 63; midnight, 26.80. Noon, wind N.E. "
A native Tema from Makassar brought accounts to Sin-
gapore of the loss of an American vessel named the George
Browne, Captain Higgins, within eight hours pull of
Makassar. The crew had arrived there in the boats, which
were afterwards sold. This is all that is at present known,
but further in elligeucc may be located fur by vassals ex-
pected to arrive soon.
We arc sorry to have to record the total loss of the fine
American clipper ship Memnon, Captain Gordon, from
Hong Kong bound to London.
Her Majesty's ship Amazon, Captain Barker, left Sings-
pwe on the morning of the 2nd Sept. for the Peltier Come,
Captain Barker having been instructed by the naval com-
mander in chief to inquire into the outrages alleged to ham
been committed by the Rajah of &twang in the case of the
British ship Lady Raffles.
From Siam we continue to receive the most favour-
able accounts of the state of affairs there. By latest
arrivals we learn that the King has given orders for
a large addition to be forthwith made to the city of
Bangkok. 1k has also established a printing press,
at which works are to be produced in Siamese and
English, for the enlightenment of his subjects. His
Majesty has also directed a general revision of the
laws of the kingdom, so that they may be made as
equitable as possible, and we understand he has ex-
pressed his firm intention that equal justice shall
be dealt out to ull alike, high and low, rich and poor.