Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-15
DONIISTEG.
DESTRUCTION OF THE FINE SHIP BosroN AT SEA


BosroN, June Am unusual degree of .rn.ation
was excited yesterday in this City, by the melancholy
death OF young lady, who persisted by exposure in
| the boat. This strong and elegant shp-one Of the
he.t packets that belongs to the country was struck by
lightning in the Gull Stream six days out from Charles
ton, and burnt 10 the waters edge. We present the
details below, as furnished by Capt. Mackay. Lamen-
taions vain alter fatal event; but so far
CARDS the future, do hope that chip will venture
TO sea, without electric conductors. We are aware,
that is question whmany masters Of vessels, wbe.
Their metallic conductors more frequently induce the
lightning 10 ship. tcari it of, when il spontaneous
y comes. But on due investigation, we apprehend
that the complete efficacy Of proper conductors will be
clearly estahshed-The memorable case OF the Pack
ct New York, three years ago. is familiar many Of
readers that Ship wa, struck twice on the same
day.-once without the conductor in its place, and
once, under its metallic protection the fret time she
and barely escaped the fate OF the Boston the second
shock, though ten.fold powerful than the first
was warded of with perfect IMMUNITY by the conductors
then in its place. We witnessed, and shall never for
get the opposite effect, Of those two blasts Every in.
dividua on board, was satisfied that the New York
owed her safety under the second shock, entirely to
the virtue OF the conductor But hasten to the de.
tails Of the present The situation Of the passen.
gers and crew, OF dark night in open boat.-expos
ed TO the raging elements OF stormy ocean can be
more easily imagined than described.
Capt Mdckay give us the following particulars Of the
loss OF that excellent Ship -" On Tuesday, the 25h
May, lat 80, 81. long. g. 46, commenced with fresh
breeze and equally wea.her-at p. NJ, heavy rain,
which continued until sunset-at p NJ, forked light
ming in the South West and dark and heavy clouds rs
ing from the Westward-at g. the wind hauled TO the
wesward--a 10 p. NJ, heavy cloud began TO rise in
the South Wes-at 10, 30, sharp lightning, Glued up
the top gallant sails, and hauled the main sail up at
heavy thunder and sharp lightning, the second lash
struck the ship burst the main royal from the gaskes
aud burnt IL; knocked down the Steward and Isaac
Hopkins, sailor, and filled the ship full of electric
fluid; examined the ship imm edately, to ascertain
II the masts were injured the lightning had passed
hrnt, yl,f Ia Iorl sh
bright complisance resting each roy VI mast
We single reeed the maintop sail, and were about TO
haul the main SAIL when we asccrtained that the ship
was on re; we Immediately cleared the ain and afe
hatchways to get at the 6re heavng the cotton over
board, and cutting holes in the deck, plying water in
every direcou-but all in vain; the cotton in the main
hold was on fre fore and aft, both sides, burning
like finder. Our only alternative was to clear away the
boas and get them out, part of the crew and p,s,en.
gers at work, keeping the fire down much posi-.
ble by drawing and hsaving water the scuppers being
stopped up; stove water casks over holes cut in the
deck and in the main hstchway; starting the water
but all to no good purpose; for before could get the
long boat over the ships sde the fire had burst
the deck, and out the larboard side of the chip The
flames ragged with such violence and consumed the YES
sal so quick, that nothing could be saved from the
wreck We got about forty gallons of water AMI pro.
visions sufficient short allowance 10 keen the ma
seDgers aud alive for three weeks almost every
thing else was burnt up In the ship. the money
watches and clothes, all DESTROYED. Al A. NJ the
main and mzen masts were burnt off below deck AM
the masts fell in the WATER at half past g. the pas,en.
gers and crew all in the boats: the a.mes had
then reached the orecas,le and the ship was one com
pete hame OF fire, fore and aft. The passengers had
exered themselves to the utmost assist u.s. The Of
6cers had with unwearied exsrion, coolnes and per
sever'ng activity done all that men could do. TIL,
ships crew worked like horses, and behaved like men
but all would not do. About three hours time ha,
changed one OF the best ships that ever swsm TO com
Plee volcano, and twenty-three persons cast adr OF
the open Ocean.
The cabin passengers we're. Admiral Sir I.aac Coi.
and servant DR.: VIM Boag aud his sister, Miss Ansei
Ia Boag, Mr. Mel McNiel, and Mr.. Samue, S. Osgood
IL was then raining, and the running high AM
every person drenched through with water; in this sit
uation, the constitution Of Mi-s Boag, the only lad
passenger, soon gave way This amiabIe young lady
hrmness Of conduct at the first alarm of fire. add du
ring the whole dreadful scene worthy Of the biyhes
praise. To the divine will of God she submitted with
out murmur, and at II o'clock, Wednesday, in tn
boat che died in the arms Of her brother thanking hin
Id the most afectonae manner for his kindness gyin
her blessing TO us all. On the following day. she wa
buried with ;he Church service, situation not adj
hitting OF the corpse being kept longer in the boat
We remained in the boats near the fire of the wreck
two days, and Al 8 O'Clock p. NJ, on Thursday wer
taken on board the brig das. of L;v.rpool Nova Scotia
Demerara. hound to Halifax, Captain Joseph Barnaby
who. with his officers and crew. treated ms with ever
kindness and attention. We remained on bo,rI the bri
two days, when Sunday morning, MAY 30th falling il
with the brig Camilla. Capt. Robt B. Eies, was goo
enough to offer u' passage to Boston, and received
on board his vessel"
Miss Boag whose death is announced above /. state
10 have been most exemplary young lady. To Ieav
Turning ship at midnight, and take TO a boat upen IN
roaring ocean, tho pitchy darkness, relieved only b.
flashes Of lightning, and tho rain descending in for
rents upon her unsheered he AL must ne bav
proved too much for one tenderly nurtured and in
deed !, maybe subject Of great wonder that tbos
who were Injured to hardship, should have survived.
/ Inc Boston was valued originally at S36 600 OF
which amount she was at first insured The first poli
cy having expired, not long since, she was insured o.
800 600; $4,000 OF the sum was insured AT the IN
lumbar 0fhee. and $4,000 at the New En- gland OF
nee in this city. None Of tbs cargo we are informed
was shipped on account OF the Company. II 10 believes
to have been on English or Charleston account Ii con
sisied in whole or principally Of cotton.
| SOLID CONFERENCE.-The understood last even
ing, that Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, after landing from
The brig Camilla yesterday, authorized his agent in hi
city, to present Capt Mackay with a check for Eve
| hundred dollars.
IL has already been stated in the papers saws tb
Courier, that Admiral Sir Isssc Coffin msdiateIv n
his arrival IN this port, presented to Captain Macka
of the ship Boston, check for five hundred dollars
The letter in which this check was enclo.ed we bay
not seen, but we understand il was brief abstract
grateful and benevolent feeling, characteristic OF tn
honor and kindness OF the donors heart. The follow
ing is copy of Captain Mackay's Reply.
Boston, June, I'd, 1880.
ADMIRAL SIR Isaac CorFfN
! Respected Friend-It was with no ordinary emotion
that opened the noe handed me this morning. am
noticed its contents. The gift il indeed valuable bu
rendered infinitely more from the delicate and kim
manner in which has been bestowed coming too from
one, whose good opinion esteem il one OF the proudss
moments OF my life 10 have gained To your exceIIsn
advice hrmness, an unvaryiDg good hnmor in cheer
ing and animating the spiriis of the crew while in
situation which was calculated to produce
and despair, consider the preservation Of MANY ve