Litchfield enquirer., 1836-11-10
.nrnur srrAAfpoAT RoYAL TAR.

n0rn nf inc JOSS UA NAAC NasC s~-9 ~-Afe-AA-A~sAA
 from one ofthe passengers.
 The steaner Royal Tar, Thomas Reed,
 naatfr. of and from St. John, N. B. for Port
 land, leff St. John on Friday, 2lst inst. with about 90 to 100 persons on board, including crew. On deck, were an elephant, two cam els, several horses and anumber of caged an- imals, composing travelling caravan. On Tuesday 25th, when crossing Penobscot Bay, and within about two miles 0fthe entrance of F0r Island ThOrOughtare, it was found that the water was out of the boilers. and as the wind was blowing very heavy gale from N. w. at the time, the boat was anchored for the purpose of filling the boilers, and in about half an hour afterwards, (about 2, P. M.) she was discovered to be on fire. The engineer with fifteen other persons immedi- ately jumped into the largest boat, and made for the land to leeward, which they reached in safety in about four hours. Capt. Reed promptly took possession of the only remain ing boat, and took position short distance to windward. Three gentlemen passengers, good swimmers, jumped overheard and were taken up by Capt. Reed. The cable was slipped and sail made on the boat, with the hope of reaching the shore, but the flames spread so rapidly from aft to forward, that her mainsail was consumed III few minutes, and her tiller ropes being burnt of, she drift- 
 A signal of distress had been made, which was fortunately seen by the Revenue Cutter, stationed at Castine, then about 4 or 5 miles to windward, and she promptly went to her re- lief. Capt. Reed put on board of her the persons in his boat, and then commenced taking off those remaining on board the Roy al Tar. At this time she was enveloped in flames nearly from stem to stern. A small space forward, which had not yet taken fire, with the bowsprit, bobstay, &c. were crowded with the survivors. Those on the quarter deck were driven over by the flames, and such as survived, were hanging to the davit. tackles, chains and ropes attached to the rud- der. Many were suspended by ropes secu- red on deck, but as the fire reached them, they were precipitated into the sea and drowned. The Cutter unfortunately, had no boat of ofsufficient size to render any assistance in taking off the sufferers, and having gum powder on board, Lieut.. Dyer, in command. near the wreck, othat the work ofrescue was unavoidably very tedious. Capt. Reed, how ever, firmly and resolutely persevered with his boat, though it was with some difficulty that he could obtain an efficient boats crew to approach the wreck, fearing that the ele- phant would go overheard and destroy the boat. The last boat left the wreck little be- fore sunset, with one solitary frantic female, the last on board, whose sister and child had both perished before her eyes,. The loss of lives is estimated at from 26 to g, there be- ing several small children which had not been put on Capt. Reeds passage list, ,-the precise number cannot be estimated. The prompt and praiseworthy decision of Capt. Reed in securing the boat, was the only means by which the lifeof an individual could have been saved. The elephant, camels, and horses jumped overheard, but all the animals in the cages were burnt. Not particle of baggage was saved by an individual. Many of inc trunks and portmantea,is were thrown overheard with the hope that they might be picked up. The Cutter landed the survivors, about 8, F. M. at the Isle of Haut, where they received the most hospitable treatment from the inhabitants. M itsl te4i san- I'll Y. ss
 In addition to the foregoing, we learn from other sources, that the alarm was not gwen
 by the engineer. until he and his associates had got into the long boat, and so far sepa- rate from the steamer as to exclude other pas sengers; in conseqnence of this, 1t IS said that some ofthe passengers who were in their berths, were unable to escape the aames.- There were six cages containing animals be- longing to the Menagerie, all of which were
 burnt or drowned. ass
 The Elephant is saved. After the fire in the boat began to burn him, he Ieaped over-
 board and swan two or three miles to an
 Island-went into a barn-yard, and after frightening the cattle there out of their wits,
 was taken care of by the proprietor of the
 farm. One of the menagerie hands were put
 on shore to take care of him. The poney in
 the same menagerie also swam ashore. 1t IS
 said that when the Elephant jumped from the
 boat, he,made signs with his trunk for his
 keeper to gowith him.
 Accidental melancholy accident occur
 red at Brooklin, Vt. on Tuesday last A large number of persons were engaged in raising
 the roof of brick meeting house, and as they
 were hoisting the bell deck, the props under } heath gave way and about fifty persons were Precipitated to the ground, a distance of a. l bout twenty feet, among the falling timbers g several arms, legs and shoulders were brok g en. One man had spike four inches long : attached to a pole, driven into his back About twenty five persons were more or les e injured.-ibid. .-t g@
 ]. xArful Deatk-A Protestant Clergyman Q ! Hirschberg, in Silesia, was killed in his pull 1. pit. A thunder storm burst over tho town ol g Sunday while he was preaching the top o : the pulpit was suspended from the ceiling O the church by an iron chain-the lightning 1 struck the spire, penetrated the roof, and de , scended along the chain. The wig of the , old man, who was continuing his discourse l undisturbed, was seen in blaze he raised 1 his hands to his head, gave convulsive start l and sunk back dead in his pulpit. Remarkable Circumstance. David Thomp' son. an old soldier, who fought eighty years , ago at the siege of Fort William Henry