The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-08-12
From the Boston Palladium cfJniy 30.
Shin Edward Newton.

vi DootObs w tiAS 0HN>tSt
Perkins & Co.
"St. PHILLIP de Bengueta, IAN March, 1924,
"Gentlemen / have the painful task to
perform of giving you an account OF the DIS
truction of the Edward Newton by fire. The
impression forces itselfupon me, and cam
not help rcmarking the great mercy OF God
in our preservation through the perils OF a
boisterous ocean in open boats, and finally
when our case seemed hopeless, and death
(eitherhy sword famine) appeared inevita-
bile. by our sudden and unexpected deliver
ance into the hands of civilized and hospita-
BILE people.
81 will endeavour, as we'll as the bcwil-
dcred state of my faculties will admit, to give
you some particulars of this distressing affair.
! left Calcutta on the 18th Dec. Madras and
Pondicherry OH the 28th OF the same month
had rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and
was making the most of a fair wind, with the
prospect of a short passage, when, on the
goth of Feb. in lat, 90, 5. long. 10 1-2 +. this
dreadful calamity befel us. On the day a.
bove mentioned, at half past O'Clock in the
evening, smoke was discovered issuing from
beneath the cabin deck, through the apper-
tures of the run scuttle, which being Instant
ly removed, discovered the ship to be on fire.
Every eXertion was made to smother the
flames, but all to no purpose, as by opening
the hatch it took vent, and famed the flames,
which rushing furiously up, filled the cabin,
and Obliged us to retreat or perish where we
were. The fire followed us SO closely and
spread so rapidly under deck, and the thick
sulphureous smoke produced by burning salt
petre, having penetrated every part OF the
hull, we gave up all hope of saving the ship,
and turned our attention to the preservation
of our lives and it was by the greatest excr
tions only that the boats were got out, and
that we escaped sharing the fate of our ship.
1t does appear almost Incredible, but it is not
less true, that in fifty minutes from the time
the discovery was made, we were all in the
boats, and the ship in one general blaze, even
to the royal mast heads. The flames from
aft rushed along the main deck with such
impetuosity that the Instant the launch
struck the water, a lady passenger, with
three children, one an infant were actually
caught up and thrown into her. There was
no possibility of getting below after our first
retreat from the cabin; consequently not an
article could be saved, either Of wearing APP
parcl, papers, or any thing which could serve
us as food. Every thing Of the stock kind
was also devoured by the fire during this
scene of distress and confusion. We may
surely account it a providcntial ciicum
stance, that we saved the only casll, contain
ing 10 gallons waSer, all the others being un-
der deck with which, aud bag containing
Is lbs of bread, with a basket of potatoes, we
pushed off from the ship, being at the time
SO entirely enveloped in smoke, as not to be
able to discern each other in the boat. After
pulling off, we remained at short distance
to windward, with all eyes fixed on the
shocking scene before us. The flames had
now got possession OF every part OF the hull,
and had ascendcd the masts, Gas before
stately to the royal masts heads-the whole
presenting one solid body of fre--shc dens,
columns of smoke shooting up and mixing
with tine clouds---a scene sufficient to appal
the stoutest heart. At half past 6 O'Clock,
our goodly Ship, being dismastcd, and burnt
blown up) disappeared, and sunk, and no.
thing remained Of her, except few floating,
fragments of burnt spars.-Night closed the
scene, and left us to realize the misery Of our
situation. There remained no hope oi OBJ
tanning any thing that might float from the
wreck. All the provisions, being below
were destroyed with the ship, and orr small
stock threatened us with starvation.--W c
had therefore no time to loose, but to make
every possible exerton to reach the Coas,
of Africa and with the help of two piece
of burnt sails, and a compass, without charts
or covering OF any description, except wha
we stood in, we shaped our course (as W.
supposedly for the nearest point of the Cont
nent, in boats-myself, Mrs. Nixon, ant
children, and ten men, in the launch, the of
fcers and three men in the other. Stron
souther; winds, and northerly current
greatly protracted our passage, and prevent
cd our making the coast until tie 2lth W
saw the land, coast Of Caffralid, in lat 49, s.
6lrcarY, sterile coast, inhabited by wild ne
groes and wild beasts, and presenting to-
nothing but utmodntans and burning sands, an
on the sea coast, afforded no fresh watcr.-
To have landed here, would doubtless ha,
been fatal to us all and notwithstanding VI
were reduced by thirst to state bordcrl
on desperation, our reason still prevailed
and we had the fortitude to keep the sea wit
the land in sight-and after suffering all III;
human nature could endure, during TWEEN,
days, in the boats, we arrived on the lot
inst: at this settlement, and we've received /
the Governor in a most kind and hospital
manner, whose generous and unrcm'tted c,
ertions to supply our wants, and render 0,
situation comfortable do honor to himself, al
entitle him to our lasting gratitude.
"Sincc my arrival here, have intcrrogs
ed the ships steward respecting the immet
ate cause of this sad affair." mean not
impute to him design to destroy the sh
/ believe the act of setting fire to have be
accidental; but his own confession to n