Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-11-16
WooDsTocK, VIRGINIA: NOVEMBER Is, ls4s.

silghtes. suspicion was attached to the
supercargo,. Mr.. Bennes, or the owners
for any agency in the affair. 1t appear
ed that on the morning of the day or
which the fire broke out, both mates ant
nearly all the crew had leave to be alb
sent from the. ship-and were on shore
or at considerable distance, when the
alarm was given. The captain dined
early, and afterwards wrote letter, fol
ded It, and called on the steward for E
lighted candle by which to seal it. This
was brought, and the steward left the
cabin. Soon after this the captain came
on deck and seated himself in chair.
beneath the awning and was soon an.
I parently very deeply engaged in reading
newspaper.
lie had been busted in this way but a
| short time ere the mate of ship near. by,
was astonished to see a dense cloud Of
smoke issuing from the cabin and sky.
light, ard hailed the captain, who was SO
costly enjoying himself, and informed him
that his, ship, acas on fire, The captain,
on being thus interrupted in the midst
ofhis studies, found himself enveloped in
smoke, and instantly ordered the boat to
the gangway, declaring that the ship
aoo"la be blo,caa se0 instantly! The two
seamen on board, however, refused to
leave, until they had passed into the
boat most of the littl e property belonging
to themselves and their shipmates. and
even, stripped the fore rigging of, the
clothing which had been hung there to
dry. Meanwhile. the cry Of fire was rails
ed and passed from ship to Ship, and the
boat was, showed off by the crptan, and
the ship left to her fate 1t further ap-
peared that only a few days before, the
captain had taken ashore his sextant,
chronometer, fowlingpiece, and ether val
liable articles. although the ship was ex-
pected to sail within week, proceed
ing which was altogether unusual.> and
excited no little surprise at the time
While their appeared no sufficient mo-
tive on the part of any person connected
with the ship to set her on fire, many
facts, some of which | have stated, and
| others have now forgotten, seem to
warrant the conclusion that the fire was
not communicated in an altogether acct
! dental manner. | believe that the un-
derwrIters made an investigation of the
circumstances, and. refused to pay the in.
surance which Subsequently became the
subject of a protracted lawsuit, with
| what result we never learned.
The gallant conduct of Captain Sturt
Of the British ship Pheton, elected much
praise flom the Americans in port. A
number of the shipmasters sent him let
ter on the following day, acknowledging
IN handsome manner. their obliga atoms
for. the services rendered on the occasion
by himself, his officers and men. They
also presented him with an elegant whale.
boat, which they purchased from Capt
Sheffield, of the Stonington brig. before
alluded to, as small testimony of Their
respect for his character, and gratitude
for his services. Captain Sturt made an
appropriate reply TO the letter, and &C.
copied the present, which was made in
true sincerity of heart. His letter con
tanned sentiments highly honorable te
him as British officer and citizen oil
the world. The correspondence was
published at length in the New England
Palladium of November IS, 1924.