Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-11-11
Bosron, Oct. 20.

Loss Of the British sieamer Royal Tar.
Can't. Thomas Howes, OF the steamboat
3a ngor, has politely furnished us with the
GLOWING particular of the loss Of the
,bove vessel, obtained from one Of its pas
The steamer Royel Tar. Thomas Reed,
master, Of and from st. Johns, N. b. for
Portland, left on Friday the 2lst inst. with |
about 90 to 100 passengers, including crew.
On deck were an elephant, two camels,
several horses, and number Of Gagged ami
mails, comprising travelling caravan.
On Tuesday, 25th, when crossing Pc
nobscot Bay. aud within about two miles
of the entrance Of Fox Island thoroughfare,
It was found that the water was out Of the
boiler, and as the wind was blowing n very
heavy gale from N. w. at the time, the
boat was anchored for the purpose of filling
the boilers; and in about an hour after,
she was discovered to be on fire.
The engineer, with fifteen other persons.
Immediately jumped into the largest boa,
and made for the nearest land to leWard.
which they reached in safety in about four
hours. Capt. Reed promptly took posses
sion OF the only remaining boat, and took
position short distance to the windy
Three gentlemen passengers, and good
swimmers, committed themselves to the
water, 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 50 ropidly from
aft to forward that her maiDmas. was con-
sumed in a few minutes, and her tiler
ropes being burnt away she drfied broad
side TO the wind directly out 10 sea.
A signal of distress had been made. and
it was fortunately discovered by the Reeve
nue. Gutter stationed at Castlne. then about
four or five miles 10 the windward. and
she promptly bore up to her relief. Capt
Reed put on board of her the persons in
his boat, and then Immediately commenced
taking off those remaining on board the
Royal Tar.
At this time she was mass OF flames
nearly from stem to stern; small space
forward which had not yet taken fire, with
The bowsprit. bobstay, &C., was crowded
with the survivors Those Oh the quarter
deck were driven overheard ty the flames,
and such as survived were hanging to the
davt tackles, chains, and ropes attached
to the ruddcr.
Many were suspended by ropes secured
on deck, but as the fire reached them, were
precipilated into the sea and drowned
The cutter unfortunately had no boat OF
sufficient size to render any assistance in
taking off the sufferers aud having gun
powder on board, lieut.. Dyer. in command,
did not deem it very prudent TO approach
very near the wreck; SO that the work Of
rescue was unavoidably very tedious.
Capt Reed, however, firmly and reso-
lutcly persevered with his boat, though it
was with some difficulty that hi could OBJ
tuin an efficient boats crew to approach
the wreck, fearing the elephant would GO
overheard and destroy the boat.
The last boat left the wreck little be.
fore sunset, with one solitary frantic f.
male, the last on board, whose sister and
child had both persisted before her eyes
| The loss of lives is estimated at from &c
to SO; there being some small children on
board which had not been inserted on Capt
Reeds passenger list, the precise number
cannot be ascertained.
The prompt nnd praisewo5'h. decision
of Capt. Reed in securing the boa, was the
only means by which the life Of an indivId
ual could have been saved.
The elephant, camels and horses jumpet
over board, and all the animals in cage.
were burnt.
None Of the passengers or crews bag.
gage was saved. Many of the trunks, &c
were thrown overheard in hopes that they
might be picked mp.
The cutter landed the survivors about
P. M. at the Isle of Hunt, where they 70
received the most hospta5Ie treatment
from the inhabitants. We learn there wa.
large amount Of specie on board The
Royal Tar.
PORTLAND. Oct. 81.
The dreadful steamboat calamity yet con
tinues to attract universal attention. The
loss of human life. the loss of the wild beast.
in the Caravan-burnti 10 death TOO in thei
cages, the loss of property in other why's
and the great variety Of hazardous escapes
render 1t one Of the most remarkable acct
dents upon record.
| wrote you here TO day that the Ele-
plant is saved. After the fire in the boat
began 10 burn him, he leaped overheard
and swan two or three miles TO an island
went into 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 mnagerie hands were put on shore
to take care of him. The poney in the
same menngerie also swan ashore. 1t i:
SAID that when the Elephant jumped from
the boat, he made signs with his trunk foI
MS Keeper to 60 with him. This keeper OF
some other person in the menagerie, after
wards jumped overheard with $500 in spe
Gle tied round his waist, and sank immedi.
a,ely.
An Irish woman was seen standing or
deck with her clothes on fire, and whcr
me names reached her cap. she jumped
overheard and was seen no more. The
scene throughout must have been one of the
most awful Imagination can picture.
HORRIBLE SHIpwREcK.-On the ea,l
Su'y' the Volunteer, of Hull, Capt. Clarke
from America. in lat. As deg. 90 min. N.
and 90 deg. 90 min. w. longitude, abou,
hundred miles from Cape B1e,on, discoy
ered vessel to the N E., having a sio.
MAJ OF distress at the mast head. The
ooats were manned and went to her oss;s,
ance, and found her to be The Hannah, Of
Norlh sh'elcs. Capt. Cloush, from the
river 81. Lawrence, laden with do.l,