The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1859-11-19
Burniss or the sAsp NvsasG.

A correspondent Of The San Ffsneisso (Gsl.)
Times, who was on boaid the clipper ship Msstiff
which was burn, at sea whom fivs days out from
San Francisco, on her way to China, gives the
following account Of the catastrophe,
On the afternoon q the AMI day out CThursiay,
Sept ibtb), between t,so and Pm, n we vefe
peacefully breathe along In charming weather. with
All sa sat, an alsrm q Are was rsised smohs rose
up hroueh the vsntilatofs an, and our Chinese pas
sengers, Of whom we had lI5 quartercd ia the be-
twten decks, rushed on dc ,k In CONSERVATION Cspt
Jossso instantly ordered the hose TO the force pump
and immediately stream was sst IN motion, and the
msses took the ripe down the a'tsr seutte, bat
driven back by the sufIoc stiDg smoke which iaceas
ell learfully In vomn sud fcrcs.
decks al On dro, and the Are compunicsssd 70 .
huge quAntiiy ef hay In ths lover hold, and sprsad.
ing 20 r.ladiy among slisht dry be,ths and matt
was . nero waste Of time. He ordered toe puups
stopped, and al hAnds To the 10 ~ving and launching
cl Se boAts The or, Of 'po sdsr" was raised !, but
msgazhe, which contans powder enough to blow
tue ,hp end all Into the cir, aud was situ lat d
the ere removed snd thro IN overheard A ship was
the yards thrown sb,ck, Nov, all dcpended on
tie b,ata Could they be launched And hled
In ss'e,y before The lire should burst through
there half frantic Chinsnen s,mo OF these
potr creatures rushed insdly for the boats, aud
others wero stupined by fear. BY threats 10 some,
rest and Tie presenting o IsvOvsis a, thsir hsais
they were ksIt At hay aud In sonetbiag Ike subjec-
ton. III these ,J,ts, the captain well )ndsd
BY his foors and crew, and by the cabin passon-
gerr, aud kea-fAripg men will give cro Int 70 tho skill
and dhcipliio that prevailed, whom they / Id
tat every boat was launched, supplied with oars,
msnmd, loal,d with pa.sengois, aud sent of With
sor, the captains wife, the only female passenger,
went In the fust hat, behaving with considerable
The ebip In t,pbt rbirb prcv,d N ,e the n,,ti.b
ship Achilles, osoe rapidly up, ard hove ~ to wind
ward ol us. end sent boat ~ ah la charge Of
our second mate. Tho four boats Of the Msstd and
this boat Of the AchillSs employ Cd In pass
and transporting the Chinsmep. These poor follows,
not understanding our Language, Ignorant OF b,ats
and the sea- hsd the Sh,ins hung over N. sides BY
and force was stil nectssay 20 keep them fron,
swamping the boats. Iu abou. ono hour and
a hslf sfter TIE hrst alarm was given, every
peison on beard the Ma stiff had been safely placid
on the Geek Of tho Achilles, with the single
exception Of Chinanap, who went below 10 save his
money chest and was suf Gated. Ills death va, not
known, except to few of his countrymen, until the
next day. When oil the lives had been saved, Capt.
JOHNSON gave Is attention 10 saving property and
provisions. The specie, amounting 70 nearly eighty
Achilles, In charge Of chief mate. Efforts we're
made TO get out brsd and other provisons TO relieve
the friendly sp from the tax upon her stores but the
Are had made such prcgres in thaa pert Of the shr
that none could be got out. A soon the mors
presiding duties 10 human liv,s wore psnormed, the
steward, who wss conspicuous for .elf.possossion
and activity bad got out tho chief part Of Tho cabin
pasrcngsn' baggage from tfe houss deck, and vsr
nte In tho house was let, though oil was lost which
bad been placed below. Most Of the cabin psssn.
r. n still bosrd, Of shoioe, and sisd In got
ting out their lusgaSa The hcuss for tho crew Was
deck, sud much Il th,iv effects were aAv1d, the
e.gtsln now giving Ab"ty 70 ell 70 ave for thsm
luggage the stock Of anmAs rsosi ived the stten'on
Of the master and ohotu.