The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-22

the mselves useful to the world.
Thrilling Narrative,
DESTRUCTION OF THREE coAL-LADEs VESSELS BY PRE-
WONDERFUL EsCArE OF THE PASSENGERS AND
CREWS
We have been furnished by friend with the fol-
lowing highly interesting letter, giving the particu
laden ships, brief account of which we published
some days since. The writer is Mrs. Bates, the
wife Of the captain of the Momentum, the first
a woman to pass through such a continued series
OF dangers OF character 80 tying as those re;
corded in Mrs. Bates's letter. The letter is dated
Bay Of Sechura, Coast of Peru, January IL, 1851,
and after few lines Of q private nature, says
will now commence my narrative. After we
left Baltimore, we proceeded on our voyage pleas.
antly, and assure you never enjoyed myself more.
Nothing occurred 10 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
loaded very deep with coal, which was taken out Of
the mnes brought directly down to the ship in the
cars, turned (someumts king wet, from the rain
that fell the way,) directly into the ships hold,
and there il had renamed heating through all the
hot weather. until the gas that originated from il
had generated fire. This result was feared by some
before we sailed.
Imagine our situation-eight hundred miles from
land, on board a burning ship, with very incle-
ment weather. so rough that boats like ours could
was no o her way but to smother the fire as much
as possible; and bear up for the nearest land-the
Falkland Islands. The crew Immediately COM
menced getting up provisions and water sufficient
to last until we could arrive at tie Islands, and
during the short time they were emplo ed between
decks, SO powerful was the gas that some of the
men fell down senseless 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 apparently water
tight. The gas finally filled the cabin, SO that
they were obliged to AGATE it, We were in mo-
mentary expectation of an explosion, as such
things had been known to occur in similar sltua-
items. We had our boats ready to launch in case
the fire broke out although we did not suppose for
a moment they could live. Ii was extremely cold
weather, and was wrapped up ia all the warm
deck for fear of the effect of the gas. Before |
left the cabin 1t nearly suflocated me. / was so
taiigued for want of sleep that lay down on the
floor and fell asleep, and when ] awoke could
not stand, and could scarcely Breathe until after
had TIT of vomiting, which relieved me.
We were eight days in this situation before we
discovered land. There were two men stationed
alcft TO keep look out, and William was on the
house. II was very thick, and soon William sung
out Land hsr' shall never forget that joyful
sound. Presently the high rocks, called the Vol
unteer Rocks, which make of two miles, began to
heave in sight, and can assure you those barren
rocks presen TO US a most welcome appearance
We ran into little cove, under the lee OF the land
and anchored that night, for il was blowing close
reeied topsail breeze, right down the harbor. The
next day we beat up to the settle called Port
Stanley, an English colony, consisting of 400 peo-
pie. We had survey upon the ship-opened the
matches, and found her all on fire. We COM
menced throwing water INTO the hold with an en-
CINE; but the fire still increasing. there was no
alternative left but TO run the ship on shore and
scuttle her. This was done, and after the fire was
F, xiinguished we went to work and stripped the
wreck. Everything between decks was saved, in
damaged state, and was sold at auction She was
dreedfully burnt inside. Her beams and stanch-
were burnt oil, and her lower deck had fallen
in. She wasso burnt at the bottom that she bilged
immediately, although she was run on shore where
After The business was all settled, we should
have come directly home; but the island being
very little frequented by vessels, we might have
remained there year perhaps, before on op3oru
in port, Scotch ship from Dundee, bound for VAL
paraiso, called the Humayoon, Captain McHenry,
master, and he said he would take US to Vslp.-
raiso, from whence We should be more likely 10
have an opportunity OF returning home. We left
the Fslklands about the 2jth OF November, IN his
ship, which was loaded with ceal but which hal
been in so long that we thought there no dam
ger from IL. We had been az sea twelve days,
and were just round Cape Horn, when we dis
covered the ship TO be fire, and it ncre ased so
rapidly that in three or four hours she was in
ilsmes.
We were at this time seventy miles from land,
and Immediately made preparations 10 take 10 the
boats, preerrlng TO take our chance Of gaining the
land, although Il was en- inhosptable coast, inha-
bi1d only by sayages. Just at this moment sail
hove in sight We hoisted signal Of distress, and
she bore down tor us. She proved TO be an Egg
lish chip, called the Symmetry, loaded with coal,
bound 10 Acapulco. Captain Thompson, her CON-
mander, took us all on board; and, in short time
we saw the fine ahip Humayoon burn to the wa
ter's edge.
We remained on board the symetry twelve
days, when a large ship hove in sight, and in en-
swer to our signals hove to- She proved to be the
American ship Fanehon: Of Newburgport, Captain
Baltimore with coal at the same time we did, and
was well acquainted with William. Judge Of his
astonshment TO learn that we were on board the
Symmetry. He imme diately invited US to come on
board bis fine ship, and we at once accepted the
invitation. The ship was loco tons burthen, and
had in 200 tons Of csal On the % h Of Deem
Der, when we were in the Pacific, l 200 miles from
land, we discovered the Fanchon to be on fire
Efforts were Immediately made TO make her as
tight as possible, and Capt. Lunt shaped his course
for he man land. We were on board this burning
ship three weeks, and imagination cannot conceive
the anxiety OF our minds during this time We
never saw sail Of any kind from the time tn.
IRE was discovered until we saw the land, and
then nothing but those little "Catamarans."
Captain Lunt ran the chip into a small bay, CALI
ed the Bay Of Sechura, and anchored about two
n lies from The shore, at o'clock P. M. lie inn
medIately conrse need landing the dunnaqe in the
4 nj on good sandy beach. A tent was built, and
after taking every thing off the ships deck, they
NfrAtH ndOnte, no eOOuPI we're tnry rdtsru
than she was one sheet of flame below. The
patches were put on again and she was run on
shore and scuttled; but the flames were too far
TO prevent her from burning And there
lay that Loble ship in this lonely bay, and burned
to the waters edge. oh II was awfuIly grand
II was a scene never TO be forgotten. Give the
fretst fight 10 the imagination, and il cannot
ceive anything tn surpass the reality. Think of the
danger we incurred IN remaining 90 long (tbree
veeks) on board that burning ship. She was
actually all burnt out inside. In one day more IL
would hsve burst out AT her sides. Twelve hundred
tons OF coal, with all her other cargo-and all on
fire, made trifling heat TO be living over. But
then we hesitated to take to the boats until we
were compelled TO, on account Of the sutierings we
should have 20 en- dure in an open boat al sea.
The coest where we are now staying Va unin-
ha bied. The nearest settlement IN fifty miles from
us. The Bay Of Sechura is on the coast OF Peru,
abou, so miles from Payta. The fret officer,
with a boats crew, have now gone up to Payta TO
get the American Consul TO render us assistance in
getting away.
have been on board four difFeren, ships since
n IT -. 49,. II