Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-11-08
LOSS OF TIE BRITISH STEAMER ROYAL
TAR
TopiiF's .Nttcs Room,
Boston. Oct. 30. 0 o'clock. p. NJ.


Boston Oct. 30, o'clock p. NJ.
CAPT. Thomas IIowes OF the steamboat Bangor,
has politely furnished US with the following parlic-
uars Of the loss Of the above vessel, obtained from
one Of the passengers
The Steamer Royal Tar. Thomas Reed master,
Of and from st. Johns, a. b. for Portland. left m,
Friday 2is, inst. with about 90 to 100 passengers
including crew. On deck were an elephant, two
camels, several horses and number of Gagged ant
mails, comprising travelling caravan.
OF Tuesday. 25th, when crossing Penobsco;
Bay aud within about two miles of the entrance
Of Fox Island ,horoughfa'e, IL was found that the
water was out of The boiler. and as the wind was
blowing a heavy gale from n. w. at the time. the
boat was anchored for the pnrpose nj ming the
boilers: and in about hour after, (about r. NJ.
she was discovered 10 be on fire.
The engineer with fifteen other persons i'nmedl'
s,ely jumped iuto the largest boat,and made Tor the
nearest land TO leeward, which they reached IN safe
" in about four hours. Capt Reed promptly took
possession of the only remaining boat, and took
position at a short distance TO the windwhrd -
Three gentlemen passengers,good swimmers CONF
United themselves to the wafer, and acre taken ~
by Capt. Reed.
The cable was slipped and sail made on the boat
with the hope OF reaching the shore. but the flames
spread randy frQm all 4 forward. that tie NAM
a.ssswss eopt utsed ia few minutes, and her ter
tsSpss hei~p bum, away. she dted broadside to the
Eisa, dnect!Y Ont to
1 "A 4sadf or distress had been made, aud il was
fortunately discovered by the Revenue Gutter sta
toned at Css,ine then about four or five miles &c
windward, and she promptly bore up To her relief.
Capt. Reed put on board OF her the persons IN hls
boat. and then immediately commenced taking oil
those remaining on board The Roya' Tar.
| At this time she was mass of flames nearly
! from stem TO stern I; small space forward which
had not ye, taken FIRE, with the bowsp:it, bobslny
! &c. was crowded with the Survivors. Those On
1 the quarter deck were driven overheard by the
! flames, aud such as survived were hanging 10 the
davt tackles, Chains aud ropes attached 10 ihe rud
der.
Some were suspended by ropes, secured on deck
but as the fire reached the were precplthted into
the sea aud diowned. The Gutter uniortUnstel,
had boat Of sufficient size to render any assist
snce in taking OH the sufferers, and having gun
powder on board, Lieut.. Dyer 10 command. did not
deem II prudent 10 approach very near the wreck
so that the work If rescue was utayoidably yer,
tedious.
Capt. Reed, howtseI, firmly and resoloiely per
severed with bis boat. though II wac with som
difficulty that he could obtain sufficient boat
crew to approach the wreck, fearing the eiephaD
would go overheard and destroy the boat.
The last boat left the wreck a little before sun
set, with one solitary frantic ienioie, the last "I
bosrd whose sister and chlld had both perlshed be
fore her ewes. The loss of lives Is estimated q
from 20 to 80, there being some small children ~
board Who had not been inserted IN Capt Reed
passenger ist--lhe precise number cannot be as
certainrd.
The prompt and pralseworlhy decision of Capt
Reed IN securing the boat was the only means b
which the life of an individual could haze been ~
we'd. The elephant. camels and horses Juu'pe
overheard, and oil the animals 10 tie cages neF
; burnt.
: None of the passengers or crews baggage, va
saved; many Of the trunks &c. were thrown Owe
D BOARD in The hope that they might be picked up
The Cutler landed the SURVIVORS about . p.
al the lsle Of lloal where they received the iao
/, bospitabls treatment fo,a the inhabitants. W
learn there We large amount vi specie on boar
). the Royal Tar