Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22

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], DESTRUCTION OF THREE VESSELS by FIRE.
The Boston Journal has furnished by friend with
the following interesting letter. giving the particulars Of the
destruction by FIRE at Of three coaaden ships Of
them from Baltimore, brief account Of which we published
some days since. The writer is Mrs BARS Of Baltimore
the wife Of the captain Of the Nonantum the FIRST vessel men,
toned in the letter 1t is seldom the lot Of pass
through such continued series Of dangers Of character 50
trying those recorded in Mrs. Batess The letter il
dated Bay Of Sschura, Of Peru January IT. 1885,
after few lines Of private nature says:
will now commence my narrative. After left Bsi-
more we proceeded voyage pIeassny, and
our enjoyment until about inthe latitude Of the river
Platte, when William discovered sm Ike issuing from the
hatch, and then the startling truth flashed upon our
minds that the ship fire. She loaded very deep
with COAL which taken Of the mnes brought direct
down to the ship in the cars, turned sometimes soaking
wet from the rain that fell the wsy) directly into the
ships hold and there remained heating through all the hot
weather. until the gas that originated from had generated
fire. This result was feared by before We sailed
Imagine our stnation-eisht hundred miles from laid on
board burning ship, with very nclement weather. rough
that boats Ike ours could not possibly live for any length of
time. There other way but to smother the fire as
much possible and bear for the nearest land the Falk
land Islands The Immediately commenced getting up
provisions and water sufficient to last until could arrive
the Islands, and during the short time they were employed be-
tween decks, powerful the gas that Of the men
fell down senseess from its effects They cauked every
and the matches tight possible, and yet gas and
smoke would escape through which apparently
tight The gas finally filled the cabin so that they
were obliged to vacae it. We in momentay expecta-
ton Of explosion such things had been known
in similar situations We had boats ready launch in
the fire broke out although did suppose for
ment they could live Il extremely cold weather. and
wrapped up in all the clothes could get on and
obliged stay deck for fear of the effect of the gas
Before left the cabin it nearly suffocaed ia
gued for want Of sleep that lay down the floor and fell
asleep and when awoke could stand and could
breathe, until after had fit Of vomiting which relieved
We eight days in this situation before discovered
land There stationed aloft to keep look
out and William the house. It very thick and
William sung out "land no :" shall forget
that joyful sound Presently the high rocks called the Vol
untee Rocks which make off two miles, began to heave in
sight, and you those barren rocks presented
welcome appearance. We into little cove, I'M
der the lee Of the land, and anchored that night, for
blowing close eefed opsa breeze right down the habor
The next day we beat up the settlement called Port STAN
ley, English colony, consisting Of four hundred persons
We had survey upon the ship opened the patches and
found her all FIRE. ave commenced throwing water into
the hold with engine, but the fire still increasing there
alternative left but the ship shore and scuttle
her. This done, and after the fire extng1shed
went to work and stripped the wreck Every thing between
decks saved in damaged stae and sold al auction
She deaduy burnt inside Her beams and stancheons
burnt Oft and her lower deck had fallen in She was
burnt the bottom that she bged Immediately, although
she shore where it was very soft bottom.
After the business all settled should have d
recy home, but the island being very little equened by
vessels might have remained there year perhaps before
opportunity would have enabled to return There
in port Scotch ship from Dundee, bound for Valparaiso
called the Humayoon Capt. McHenry master, and be said
ne would take us to Valparaiso, from whence should be
more likely to have opportunity Of returning home We
left the Fakands about the 25h of November in his ship
which loaded with COAL but which had been in long
that we thought there danger from it. We had been
at twelve days. and just round Cape Horn, when
discovered the ship to be fire, and increased rapidly
that in three or four hours she in flames.
We were at this time seventy miles from land, and mme
diaey made preparations to take to the boats preerrng
take chance Of gaining the land, although in
hopitsbe coss inhabited only by savages Just this
ment sail hove in sight. We hosed signal Of distress,
and she bore down for She proved to be English ship
called the Symmetry, loaded with COAL bound to Acapulco.
Capt. Thompson her commander took ell board, and
in short time we saw the fine ship Hunayoon burn to the
waters edge
We remained board the Symmetry twelve days. when
large ship hove sight, and 10 signals hove
She proved be the American ship Fanchon of New
buypor, Capt Lun, bound to San Francisco She loaded
Baltimore with coal at the time did, and well
acquainted with William. Judge Of his astonishment learn
that we were on board the Symmetry He immediately In
vi,ed us to board his fine ship and at
cepted the invitation The ship 900 tons burden, and
had in 200 of COAL On the 25th Of December when
we were the racine, discovered
the Fanchon to be fire Efforts Immediately made
to make her tight possible and Capt. Lunt shaped his
course for the main land. We board this burning
ship three weeks and Imagination conceive the anxiety
Of our minds during this We a sail any
kind from the time the FIRE first discovered until
the land and then nothing but those little " Catamsrans
Captain Lun the ship into small biy, called the Bay
of Sechua and anchored about miles from the shore at
o'clock P. M. He immediately commenced landing the
dunnsge in the SURF good sandy beach. was
built and after taking every thing off the ships dock they
opened the hatches and they raised than
she sheet Of fame below The matches put on
again. and she shore and scued but the flames
were too far advanced to prevent her from burning And
there lay that noble ship, in this lonely bay, and burnt
to the waters edge. Oh it awfully grand; il was
to be forgotten Give the fee flight to the
and cannot conceive any thing surpass the
reality Think Of the danger incurred in remaining so
long hee weeks board that burning ship She was sc-
burst out at her Sides Twelve hundred tons Of coal with all
her other cargo-and all fire. made no trng heat 10 be
living But then hesated take the boats un
til we were compelled to, Of the sutrings we
should have to endure in open boat at sea.
Inc coast where we are staying 10 uninhabied The
nearest settlement is Fifty miles from The Bay Sechu
"a is on the Of Peru, about 6fy miles from Paya.
The first officer, with boats crew, have now gone up
Payta to get the American Consul to render assistance
in getting away.
have been board four different ships since left Bal-
more and have been burnt of three Of Them They were
az coaILaden While at the Faklands we heard OF large
American ship, loaded with COAL being burnt OF Cape Horn,
Inc crew took to the boats and succeeded arriving
Negro. We did not learn her name. IL seems Impossible
Tor Of the ships that loaded at Baltimore at the me we
10 he M