Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-26
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING. NovEssrn %, 1859.
BURNING OF A SHIP Al SEA.

SATURDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER ID, 1859.
BURNING OF A SHIP AT SEA.
K Ii. Dana. DR., in a letter from llonolu-
lu to the San Francisco Times, gives a thrill
linz narrative Of the burning Of the Boston
clipper ship Mastiff, Capt Johnson, Oh the
18th Of September. She had ON board a
large number Of Chinese passengers.
The captain jumped below and found the
between decks all on fire, aud the tire COM
municated to huge quantity of hay IN the
lower hold, and spreading 50 rapidly among
the light dry berths and mats OF the CHI
aese, that any attempt to exunguish IT was
a mere waste Of time. lie ordered the
pumps stopped, and all hands to the lower
ing and launching Of the boats. The cry Of
powder" was raised; but the danger had
been foreseen, and the captain had the Mag
azine, which contained powder enough TO
blow the ship and all into the air, and was
situated over the fire, removed and thrown
overheard.
A ship was in sight, and our ensign was
run up, Union-down, and the yards thrown
aback.
Now all depended on the boats. Could
they be launched and filled in safety before
the fire should break through the decks.
amid the cries and struggles of these half
frantic Cinnamon! Some OF these poor crea-
tures rushed madly for the boats, and others
were stupe6ed by fear. BY threats to some.
and hard fighting with Delaying pins against
the rest, anu the presenting OF rev"lver- at
their heads, they were kept at bay and IN
something like subjection In these efforts
A. - .>.,,,. - -, nall so,nnIa1 NJ his officers
and crew, and by the cabin passengers; aud
sea-faring men win give credit to the skill
and discipline that prevailed, when they are
told that every boat was launched, supplied
with oars, manned. loaded with passengers,
and sent of, without single accident wor-
thy Of notice Mrs. Johnson, the captains
wife, the only female passenger, went IN the
first boat, behaving with considerable cool
ness throughout.
The ship in sight, which proved TO be the
British ship Achilles, came rapidly up and
hove to the windward of us, and sent II boat
to our aid in charge Of the second mate. The
four boats Of the Mastiif, and this boat of the
Achilles, were now employed in passing aud
re-passing between the two ships. taking on
and transporting the Cinnamon. These poor
fellows, not understanding our language, u
norant of boats and the sea. filled the chains,
hung over the sides by ropes, struggling for
the earliest places in the boats, and force was
still necessary to keep them from swapping
the boats. In about one hour aud halt at
ter the first alarm was given, every person
on board the Mastiff was safely placed on the
decks Of the Achilles. with the single excep-
ton of n Chnaman, who went below To
l. ~ sniff. fnI
His death was not known, except To IL few OF
his countrymen, until the next day.
When all the lives had been saved, Captain
Johnson gave his attention to saving proper
ty and provisions. The specie, amounting t"
nearly eighty-th thousand dollars, was tn
ken out and sent to the Achilles, in charge
Of our chief mate.
Every living creature was out OF the ship
the specie was saved, all accessible places ON
deck had been cleared of their contents, and
the flames would soon be through the deck.
All but the two quarter boats now lett her Tor
the last time, and when we got on the deck
of the Achilles, the flames burst with loud
report through the main deck, near the main
mast. Two figures were still visible, III the
lurid twilight, lowering on the quarterback
of the ship of their pride-the master and the
chief mate. They now left her in the order
of battle. the captain last, and precisely at a
quarter before seven o'clock, as timed by the
captains watch, in the light Of the flames, as
he was rowed OFF in his boat, and not more
than two hours after the first intimation of
FIRE. this noble ship, SO swift 50 strong, 80 high
in reputation, 40 complete in all her appoint
ments, was deserted mass Of flames.
Wa I'll calf fbaf hal tb pr nat bppn 81 vessel
in sight the chance Of saving amy lives was
very small, and all know how often one sails
the Pacific for weeks without seeing vessel
There was also abundant cause for gratitude
that all the dangers were 80 successfully pass
ed. And hope it may not be an indelicacy
to say that this was acknowledged by all our
passengers, who spontaneously united in the
church service of thanksgiving for our pres
ervation at sea, that night in the cabin of
the Achilles.