The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-10-01
Burning ofthe Ship "Mastiff."
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Extract from the Log of the British ship ACHILLES
Henry T. Hart, Commander, on her poydge
from San Francisco 10 Sydney, ~. s. W
stating the loss Of the american clipper ship Mas
tiff, bv fire, and the Saving Of 208 iires, biz:
Cant. Johnson and lady, fire gentlemen cabin pas
sengers. the ships cretc, twenty-seren IN number.
and one hundred and SerentyJour Chinese, and
800, 900 in treasure.
On the 18th day of September, 1859, the ship
Achilles, Captain Henry L. Hart, sailed from the
Golden Gate. San Francisco, bound to Sydney,
New South Wales. The pilot left the ship at I,
A. NJ, Sunday ; the wind being southerly, the
Captain shaped a course to clear the faraliones'
and passed clear of them at 1.3O p. NJ, the wind
then from the southwark. At 8 P. NJ, the wind
hauled more westerly tackled ship to the south
ward with a moderate breeze. At daylight on
the morning of the 13th, saw 4 large ship bearing
n. W.; exchanged signals and found her to be
the American clipper ship Mastif, that had
sailed from San Francisco Is hours before us,
both ships steering to the southwark, with a light
breeze from the westward. At daylight of the
18th. wind westward, the Mastif in sight about
10 miles astern, steering the same course. On the
18th at daylight, the Mdstif in sight about the
same distance aSteIn. a hOOh ~ ~
seryation was 800 80 N, and longitude by chro-
nometer 1899 2O W., the Mastif off our weather
quarter the wind hauled more westerly; took
in topmast and topgallant studding-sails, and
hauled the ship close to the wind, intending to
speak the Mastif, but she passing ahead, did not
do so.
At Ais P. NJ, the said ship was about two
miles ahead Mr.. Harley, the I'd officer, reported
to the Captain that the Mastif had her colors up
in distress, and that she was on fire. He 'imme-
diatelv went forward and found the report true,
and that smoke was coming out of her stern ports
and the after part of the ship. The Captain
called all hands on deck, and took in all the small
sails made the ship snug sailed for the burn
ing vessel, and lay to close to w%indward: sent
the quarter boat, I'd officer and four men to as
sist in saving life. At about 4.30 p. M, the gig
belonging to the Masif came alongside with the
Captains lady, FIVE gentlemen cabin passengers
ana three Cinnamon. 1t was only after their
coming on board that the position of allO board
began to be realized. TO witness the PROSTATE
and bleeding forms of the three Cinnamon told
the means that had to be resorted to to keep them
from crowding and swapping the boats. By
this time they succeeded in launching three small
boats, (they having failed to get their long boat
over the side,) which, together with our being so
close to the burning ship, seemed to restore some
degree of quiet amongst the Chinese, who could
be seen in the sea hanging by ropes to the ships
side. The FIVE gentlemen, cabin passengers, who
were saved were: r. H.. Dana, Esq, G. G.
Harris, George Clifford, j. H. G. Richmond, M.
Schonburn.
As soon as all the Chinese, la in number
were got on board, Captain Hart sent ~instruc-
tons to save provisions, but SO rapid did the
flames spread that it was found impossible to save
a particle. We then received the crew, 81 in
number, 7 boxes of treasure, valued at about
500, 900, l iron chest, 2 c~hronometers. a small
quantity of clothing, q mahogany chest marked
g Ship Mastiff, - in gilt letters, and a few fowls
and pigs. At 6 80 P. NJ, the ship was in flames.
and at p. NJ, the main and mizzenmasts fell
over the side. We then hoisted on board two
boats, and let two 60 adrift, having SO it'll room
on deck, and the ship being full of cargo. BY
this time the ship was in flames fore and aft, and
only now indeed couldbe realized the awful doom
that awaited all on board that ill-fated ship had
not an all wise and merciful Providence made us
the instruments of their preservation. After
consultation with Captain johnson as to which
|ray It vss best to proceed, il was agreed that we
4 I'll for tie 6andwieh Idands, and land
St Honoluln. We thn ms1e nil With .
brsess hon ~ n. W. n. Dana, one Of
pu1ptShy the 1saeif, read preyeu,
* $3.50