Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-19
PLYMOUTH, March %.

Last nisnl about J o'clock, the inha
bitant. of this town were alarmed by the
FIRE of mi ute guns in the harbor OF Ha.
nnaze, and the dreadful cause was soon
discovered to be that of ship on FIRE
!, ere, which proved to be the Captain,
"A hulk, that burnt almost 10 tie waters
edge, and sunk early in Tie morning -
he devious ing element ragged on board
her =" ita Utmost ali unexampled fury, &
exhibited scene t'uly awful, but grand
beyond description. We Understand il
broke out by accident just before eleven
o'clock, and it being soon discovered to
be an impossibility TO ex;ingulsh the
flames. every exer,ion was then made
to sink her, whichwas effected about
o'clock il the morning by the shot from
some pieces Of artillery (6& 9 pounders)
brought from the gun wharf for the pur.
pose, and fired from launches nearly a.
long side her, when she went down on
FIRE, amidst the cheers of thousands of
spectators. The elements, which be.
fore had been ipf1amed to a great degree
became in moment darkened by her
disappearance. Great approximations
were entertained, during the continu
ance of the conf grafton, for the safety
of some Of ihs ships Of war building in
the dock yard, as the sparks and fakes
of fire were observed to lodge about
them in great quantities but the engines
constantly playing on them, prevented
the effects which mi ght have followed
in consequence. Providentialiy no lives
were last, and the unfortunate Captain
did cot part from her mornings Many
OF those on board her, and others, EN-
plpyed on the occasion, were much
burnt but noae OF tnem irrecovera6..
1 nc hulk uad been recently tarred, a. q
at The time the accident happened WAS
LAYING close alongside OF his ma jesly's
ship San Josef, of ll2 guns, for tire pur
pose of receiving her crew and stores
which ship is going into dock this week
fortunately, however, neither had been
removed, and, We understand, but few
stores were on board her at toe time she
caught fire The San Josef dropt sstern
of her, and did not sustain any damage
both ships lay abreast Of the dock yard,
and but ioa yards distant from il
Boats from every ship in harbor attend.
ed to render all the assistance possible,
and a constant firing was kept up from
the different ships during the greater
part of the night, to spread an alarm
the military were called out and unde'
arms. Various reports are III cireula-
ton as to. the cause of the accident; but
they are at present SO contradictory, that
we torbear mentioning any of them -.
The exertions of the officers Of the dock
yard, and every .oHe employed on tne
occasion. were conspicuous, aud merit
the warmest approba,i. Il Is rather a
curious Circumstance. and worthy ot re-
mark, that the san josef and Cap'slE
should have been along SIDE each othe'
at the time, as II must be ell reeo!lect.
ed, thet on the ME morabie l4tb Febru-
ary, 1877, the imnurta! Nelson, from tho
latter, which be then commanded, board
ed and took possession of her, then the
Span h. adniraPs flag ship, who was
killed in his cabin by The boarders The
Captain was bull, ip the year 1887, and
is snail ship other class. 1t will, tits
said, be necessary to weigh the remains
Of uer, as otherwise, we understand, that
it will prove to be an obstruction to tina:
par, of the harbor.
Since writing the foree Ding, we have
learnt tina, the cook Of the. hulk has not
been seen since the accident, il i. there.
fore generally supposed he was drunk
in the galley and persisted, and that the
fire broke out there. A seaman belong
ing to tie San Josef we regret t. say,
fell overheard in the confusion. and VS.
drowned before assistance could be rem
dered him.