The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-06 00:00:00

LOSS 01. THE PACKET SIIIP BOSTON.

(From a New York Paper.)

Dos Tax, :luso; 2.—An mms' degree of sensa-
tion WAS excited Yesterday in this pity, by the me-
lancholy tidings of the loss of the packet ship Boston,
and the death of a young lady who perished by ex-
posure in the boat: This strong and elegant ship—
one of the first packets that belongs to the country,
Was struck by lightning in the Gulf stream, six days
out from Charleston, and burnt to the water's edge.
We present the details below, as furnished by Capt.
Mackay, Lamentations are vain after a fatal event ;
but, as far as regards the future, we do hope that no
911;1) will venture to sea without electric conductors.
All's: are aware that it is a question with many masters
of vessels .whether metallic conductors more fre-
quently induce the lightning to a ship or ward it off
when it spontaneously comes. But on due investiga-
tion, we upprehend that the complete efficacy of
proper conductors will be clearly established. The
memorable ease of the. packet New York, three
years ago, is familiar to many of our readers; that
ship was struck twice on the same day—once with-
out the conductor in its place, and once under its
metallic protection ; the first time she was fired,
and very much iejured above and below, and barily
escaped the fate of the .Marlon; the second shock,
though tenfold more powerful than the first, was
warded off with perfect impunity by the conductor,
then in its place. We witnessed and shall never
forget the opposite effects of these two blasts.
Every individual on board was satisfied that lien
New York owed her safety, under the second shock,
entirely to the virtue of the conductor. But we
' hasten to the details of the rest rit ease. The
Ait nation of the passengers and crew, on a dark
night, in an open boat, exposed to the raging ele-
ments of a stormy ocean, can be more easily hue-
gilled titan described.
Captain Mackay gives the following particulars
of the loss of that excellent ship:---" On Tuesday
the 2.5 th of May last, lat. 39. 31.10ng. 63. 46, cam.
menecd with fresh breeze and squally weather—ut
• two p.m. heavy rain, which continued until sunset—
at eight pan. forked lightning in the south west,
arid dark and heavy clouds rising from the west.
wurd—at nine, the wind hauled to the westward---
, at ten p.m. a heavy cloud began to rise in the south
11TO—it tell, 30, sharp lightning, clewed up to the
tonalittlt 1111(1 hauled the mainsail up; at
eleven, heavy thunder and sharp lightning; the
second flash struck the ship, burst the main royal
from the gaskets, and burnt it ; knocked down the
leteward and triune Ilopkies, a sailor, and filled the
fillip full of electric fluid; we examined the ship
immediately to uscertain if the masts were in-
jurtel, or the lightning had passed through
the deck; but the mist appeared uninjured, a
blight comp/jounce resting on each royal mast head.
We single reefed the maintop pail, and were about to
heel the mainsail when we ascertained that the ship
was on fire ; we inunediately cleared the main mid
after hatchways to get at the fire, heaving the cot-
overboard and cutting holes in the deck, plying
water in every direction, but all in vain; the cotton
in the main bold was nit fire, fore and aft, burning
on both sides like tinder. Our only alternative
was to clear away the boats and get them out ; part
of the crew mid passengers at work keeping the fire
down es much as possible by drawing end heaving
writer, and the scuppers being stopped rip, we
stove water casks over holes cut in the deck
end in the main hatchway; mating the water,
but nil to no good purpose; for before we could
get the long boot over the ship's side, the fire
had burst thrimgh the deck and out of the larboard ,
lide of the ship. The flames raged with such violence
:and consumed the vessel so quick, that nothing
could be saved from the wreck. We got about 40
gallons-of water, and provisions sufficient, on a short
allowence to keep the passengers and crew alive for
three weeks; ulmost every thole' else was burnt lip
in thee ship, even the money, watches, and clothes,
destroyed. At three, A. M. the main and mizen
feasts were buret off below deck, and the masts
fell in the water. At half-post three the passengers
and crew Ware all in the bouts; the Nines had then
reached the forecastle, and the ship was one com-
plete flame of fire fore And aft. The passengers
had exerted themselves lathe utmost to assist us.
The officers hail, with unwearied exertion, coolness,
and perseveting activity, done all that men could dn.
The ship's crew wueked like; horses, and behaved
like Men; but all would not du. About three hours'',
time had changed one of the best ships that
.ever,
swam to a complete ,volcano, and 23 persons fug
adrift on the open ocean.
, •
The etthill passengerswere isanntrai pie Isaac
Coffin and servant, Dr. William Bong and his sister,
Miss Anselle Bung ; Mr. Neil. AVNeil, and Mr.
Semuel S, Osgool. It was then running, and the
sea was running high, and every person dreeelled
through with water; in this situation. the constitu-
tion of Miss Bong, the only lady paesengera soon gave
way. This amiable young lady's firmness of con-
duet nt the first alarm of fire, mid during the whole
dreadful scene, is worthy of the highest praise. To
the 411'1110 will of trod elle submitted without it
murmur, and at eleven o'clock on ;Wednesday, in the
host, she died in the arms of her brother, thanking,
him in the most atiectimmte eiiiiner for his kindness,
giving her blessiny to tie all. On the following day
she was buried with the Chinch service, our
tion not admitting n of the corpse being kept
longer in the boat. We remained in the , hosts
near thea fire of the wreck, two days, and
at three o'cleek, pan , on Thursday, were taken
on board the brig Mort, of Liverpool, Novu
Scotia, Demeraia, boned to Halifax, Captain
liainaby, who, with his pincers and crew, treated WS
with every kindness end attention. We remained
all bead the brig two days, when Sunday, May 30,
filling in with the brig Orating, Ciiptain obert B.
tides was good enough to offer es a prestige to But-
ton, and received us on board his vessel.

Miss Boag, whose death i• entionneed above,
Said to have been a must exemplary yo►nrg lady.. To
leave a burning fillip at midnighr, mid take to a boat
upon the roaring ocean, the pitchy darkness. relieved
only by Ilinthes of lightning, and the rein descending
in tort rots upon her unsheltered head, must
necee-
saril,y have proved to much for one so tenderly
nurtured ; end ind, ed it Kul be subject of great
won►Ser that those who were inured 14 luad.hip
',Wild have survived.

The Poston was valued originally at 36,000 dol.
hos, op which amount she wa s et first insured. Thu
fig st policy having expired not long since, she was
insured on 20,000 dollar's; 10,000 dollars of the
?,;in were insured: at the Columbian office, stud
10,000 dollars in the New Englund office in this
city. Nose of the cargo, we are informed, was
',lopped on forennnt Or the Company. his believed
nun English or Charleston account.: It
coiilkttj in Whole or 1n of VOttOn.
\Vu understood lust evening that Admiral Sir
ham Coffin, after landing from the brig Camilla
yo.ferilay, anthbrised his agent in this city to pre-
sent Copt'. Mackay with a cheque for .509 dollars.

tr, esr
Mr. it. vrItANTrR notice of motion, which
*Wide for thiv eVeninf, in for nu Address to his MArriTY
" touching the exproliency of making provision mg iinxt
&infra to which the country tnliiht he exposed by de-
mise 'of the. Crown."

UNNAT MIA T. PAT Mt e.....0tt notiday, an
inquest WO Intl at Syhelmeaei near Doncaster, upon the
body of IlvisJaallti flamer, a youth about fifteen )elrs
pf age, who woo drowned while bathing in -the river
Wen.. leformation was immediately given to his father,
who said he Atotild nut go to look for hirri.-4,1 might re.
main in the river. Two uncles of the ditcemed Wm-
thatuly,u-ent and drageed the river, and found. the, body
after it hail been about an hour in the water. It was
Itrettgbt in a cart to the father's door ; when the monster
thif it, he exclairned, ," Y shall not take it will ho
an eipense to toe to borY hint ; I am only sorry he did not
go twenty Miles down the river, that we might hear no
more of hiM I" Thera facts were pored on the inquest,
11"111!„.."oronor despatched three cones tides to apprehend
laipiiiFirtreLiii;_ch_lca7l,ararti;dialsy
xlvitgeothllpiet
son 4110entyproillnifdi
Tbs hardened wretch has a wife and