Washington telegraph., 1851-04-30


By the swart artizan!
By God, our sire!
Our souls have holy light within,
And every form Of grief and sin,
Shall and feel its FIRE,
Bv earth and hell, and heav'n,
The s,roud of souls is riven!
Mind mind alone
Is light and hope, and life, and power!
Earlhs deepest night from this blessed hour
The night Of niud is gone!
eThe Press all hands shall sing,
The Press, the Press We bring,
All hands to bless;
q palLd want. 0 labor stark!
Behold we bring the second ark
The Press the Press! the Press!
oO~-0OoO-~Oo-O-~-~-~
Full Particulars of the Losses at Sea of
Three Ships--the NOnantum, HumayOon
and FanchOn.
The Boston Journal has been furnished
with the following very interesting par
ticulars of the destruction of three ships,
furnished by Mrs. Bates. 1t is seldom
the lot of woman to pass through such
continued series of dangers of charac-
ter so trying as these recorded in Mrs.
Bates's letter The letter is dated Bay
of Sectura, Coast OF Peru, January II,
1851, aud after few lines of private
nature, says:
| will now commence my narrative.
After we left Baltimore we proceeded on
our voyage pleasantly, and assure you
never enjoyed my self more. Nothing
occurred to mar our enjoyment until We
were about in the latitude of the River
Platte, when William discovered smoke
issuing from the after hatch. and then
the startling truth flashed upon our minds
that the ship was on fire. She was load
ed very deep with coal which was taken
out of the mines, brought directly down
to the ship in the cars, turned sometimes
soaking wet from the rain that fell on the
way) directly into the ships ho!d-and
there it had remained heating through
all the hot weather, until the gas that
originated from it had generated fire. This
result was feared by some before we
sailed.
Imagine our situation-eight hundred
miles from and Oh board burning ship,
with very incement weather, SO rough
that boats like ours could not possibly
live for any length of time. There was
no other way but TO smother the fire as
much as possible, and bear up for the
nearest land-the Falkland Islands. The
crew Immediately commenced getting up
provisions and water sufficient TO last
nntll we could arrive at the Islands, anG
during the short time they were employ
ed between decks, SO powerful was the
gas that some of the men fell down sense
less from its effects. They then caulked
every seam and the matches as tight as
possible and yet gas and smoke would
escape through seams which were ap-
paIently water-,ight.
The gas tnaIly filled the cabin so that
we were Obliged to vacate it. We were
IN momelitary expectation OF an explO-
sion. as such things had been known to
occur in similar situations. We had our
boats ready TO launch in case the fire
broke out, although we Gid not suppose
for moment they could live. 1t was
extremely cold weather, and [ was wrap
ped up in all the warm clothes [ could
get OH, and was obliged TO stay on deck
for fear of the effects of the gas. Before
left The cabin it nearly sulfocated me.
was SO fatigued for want of sleep that
| lay down Oh the floor and fell asleep,
and when awoke could not stand, aud
could scarcely breathe, until after had
fit of vomiting which relieved me- We
were eight days In this situation before
We discovered land. There were two
men stationed aloft 10 keep look out,
and William was on the house. 1t was
very thick, and soon William sung out
"Land ho.' shall never forget :nat
joyful sound.
Presently the high rocks, called the
Volunteer Rocks, which make off two
miles, began to heave in sight, and can
assure you these barren rocks presented
10 US most welcome appearance. We
ran into little cove. under the lea of the
idnd' and anchored that night, for it was
oiowlnS close reefed topsail breeze.
right down the harbor. The next day
We beat up to the settIemen: called Port
Stanley, an English colony consisting of
4oo people. We had a survey upon the
smp-orened the matches and found her
all on fire. We commenced throwing
water into the hold with an engine. but
uie nre still increasing We had no alterna-
1--WE LETT but to run the ship Oh shore and
srultle her.
lhls was done. and after the fire was
eAlihSulshed We went to work and strip
pea the wreck. Everything between
uecSs was saved in a damaged state and
was sold at auction. She was dreadfuily
ournt inside. Her beams and stancheons
were burnt of, and her lower deck had
'alen IN. She was so burnt at the bot
.on that she bilged Immediately, al
'hough she was run on shore where it
was very soft bottom.
Aier the business was all settled we
should have come directly home, but the
lsland being liltle frequented by vessels