New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-11
LOSS OF THE JOSEPH sOMEs.


The intelligence of this catastrophe res,hed Lloyis
on Monday. The loss appears 10 have been fearful
one, and considering that among Der cargo she had
$50 barrels Of gunpOwder in al Is tunsD and i'm
quantity Of spirits the escape Of the and
passengers was marvellous. The Joseph SOmes wts
| a eak-buit ship 1870 tuDs register, commanded b.
Capt Elmston She sailed from the East India Docks,
London for Melbourne on the 18th of las: December.
Tie following details OF the loss are extracted from
narrative written by Mr.. Goodall, late member Of
Lloyds who with his wife and family were passen-
gers on beard:
"On the morning Of the 25th February came 10
sight Of the Handicapped peek of Tristan Acunha,
and by o'clock p. NJ. enough TO the north
side of the island TO lower the lfeboat. Capt Flu
ston having invited me, I accompanied him With
six hands on shore. We pulled into beautiful sandy
hey bounded nearly from point to point BY bold blaa
cliffs rising like huge wall some 1000 feet pepen-
dcularly from the shore. The captain made arrange.
ments for coming ashore The folo wing day wthtc
water casks We then returned TO the ship which hid
stood Of and was now some seven miles distant. We
rowed considerable distance through heavy sea,
when saw her 60 about aud stand in for the land.
The was just setting. We had noticed with some
asopisbment bow badly the ship steered, and jokef
the captain upon what thought the smoke from tbs
galley fire, for we had not dined. minute more M
heart was in my throat, for cry was raised The
ship il ON FIRE. The smoke was coming up about t1s
main hatchway where We knew the powder magazns
was. Capt. ElmstOn never more alive. 10
seemed az if he would spring from bis boat into ths
chip. He exhorted the rOwers, Pull for your hyes!
and az neered saw quite sufficient 10 convince ms
that it Was a hopeless case. The moment our ooss
reached the snip, Capt. Elmston leaped on to 70
min chains, and in second was Oh bjaid ID tine
10 order all the passengers forward Immediately hr
the flames rushing up the skyigbts aud oltoftns
cuddy doors, SO that IN a few minutes t5eH re-
treat would have been cut of entirely. The nls
WIS discovered by the captains little black servat,
Co. sim, who, with the steward, got down the com
panion batch into the store and was engaged search
ing for the source Of the smoke when the alarm %,
cane general. Mr.. Vaughan, the second oihcer, h's
jined them in the search, and at length oiscoyeTa
The flames sloDg the ships -ide Close 70 the guneck
For some time every one considered that the oockH
of water which were freely administered would ssp
due the fIe and no very great alarm was i.it az mi
but few minutes served 10 dl-pel this illusion NJ
Stokes the chief officer, who ia the captains aosers
had the command Of the ship, seeing the Increase
danger gave orders for all bands that could be sPaise
from TIE working OF the chip 10 open the magatio
and throw the gunpowder overheard. MI. befD1
epeerl rushed 10 his cabin for az, which Vase
considerable use inteariDg up abe hatchway. Iheth
off, er Mr. Pye, got 10 BIS cabin, wbsIe three bsnsS
Of powder had been slowed for wan. OF room, -
the, 2, with the remaining 2i9 barrels I'D We nSes.
zine urder the main hatchway, were Eancea y.
hand TO hand and thrown overheard. Inc W
Lad disappeared from the stOrerOom aS soa
the main hatchwey was openedi 70 re o. ing
and greater draugh', the hre wa mas.ss ~ q.
eighteen tuns Of gunpowder. Al last the owe. seH
barrels was actually hot-almost too hci ~
This wes 10 fancy Every man was ia.en' uiPnsr,,,
work These were minutes OF agoniziDg tePe.
m weaker .eY never seemed 10 have lost Their Prr
ebce Of mind; and it was q remark Of aemd i..a
made subsequently by the crew. iaat no. M, W.ns.
IVES be ard frcm anyone The steward Alrel n s@.s
acted with great bravery AID devotion. IaIee s
he made hi wsy tbTo-gh the deo-e smoke LAC Nv
orddv "a the cabin IN the stern AID saved ;he ~
tain cbrorometer. de,k, watch and other 'anaoSsS,
Cass. the black servant, also got throash me
ITO he cabin to save come If his masiei ma. .ases
off nv lufT
and fame. and be was drawn up hal Is@rs,
Trough Tie quartergsery window on 70 tns rp,ss,
TIE pippace beng lowered, the captain sts'd
ard saw all the women and chiiais irne q
ed GIsT m her Confinement. The remainder Of ,s
o. board epse SS By the sbos j. which he
had r. tuned from The island. The .a.sis sas avs.
wa wa fet when the last barrel Of guDpOwd:r
board gave all on board that compa,as,s Via
aud belief that the worst was pssS "''-