American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-12-01
nURNING OF THE MAsTIFF.
Interesting Narrative BY R. n. Damn ,Jr.
icsryss1sn9saes sf tks saa Fss.sisso Tsnss.l
HONOLULU. Oct. 8. 1859.

1csryss1eHdsnes ef tks saA FrsaeissO Tynss.l
HosoLULU. Oet. 5. 1859.
Enron TIMRs:--You will remember /
esteemsd mysellfonunate in being sble TO
procure passage in the noble stip Masliff;
end as shs beat out Of the Golden Gate.
and stood TO sea complete in all her equip
menIs, under one Of the bes: of command
ers. With tried and trusty officers. snd a
strong crew. furnished to repleiioh with
ibe comforts and lu1uries Of sea life, with /
the prospect for delightful Pacific bIsezes
to bear US to the Hawaiian Islands, few
ships companies could present a more
cheer. ul spectscle thsn did ours.
On the afternoon OF tie fifth day cut,
Sept. l9:h. teiwefn 4:30 end 5 p. NJ,
as we were peacefully bIestbed along 10
charming weather with all sail sci, an
slarm OF FIRE was raised; smoke rose up
Though The veutilaiors aft; aud our Chi
nese passengers. Of whom we bad IT'S
quariered in the between decks-rushed
on de k in CONSERVATION. Capt johnson
Instantly ordered the hose 10 the fc.ce
pump. and Ibe mates took the pipe down
the alter scu!ile. but were driven back by
the suluealipg smoke, which increased
fearfully in volume and force.
The Captain jumped below and found
between the decks all on FIRE, and the FIRE
communicated to large quantity Of hay
in the lower hold, aud spreading so rapid
y among the light dry berths and usts
OF the Chinese, that apy attempt to extin-
guish it WAS mere waste Of time. He
ordered The pumps stopped. and all hands
to the lowering and launching of the bosts.
The cIy of powder" wss raised; but
the danger bad been foreseen, and the
Captain had The magazine. which contained
powder enough to blow the ship and al
into the air. and was situsted over the
Ere, 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 toats. Could
they be launched and fled in safety be-
fora the FIRE should break through
the de- cks, amid the cries and struggles OF
these half frantic ChiDamen! Some ol
thrse poor creatures rushed madly for the
boats. and others were sinpefed with
fear. By threats TO some, and hard fitiHp
with Delaying pins against the rest. and
the presenting Of revolvers at The heads,
they were kept at bay and in something
like suhjection. In these efforts the Cap:
tain was well seconded by his officers
and crew. and by the cabin passengers
and sea-fariug men viii give or dit to the
skill and disipliDe that prevailed, when
they are told that every beat was launched
supplied with oars. manned loaded with
passengers, and sent off, without single
accident worthy OF notice. Mrs. johnson
the captains wife. the only female ps'seu
s, ger, went in the first boat, behaving with
considerable coolness throughout,
The ship in sight. which proved to. b
/. the British ship Achilles. came rapidly NJ
! and hove TO the windward Of us. aDC
sent a boat to our aid in charge of ou
!. second mate. The four boats OF the Mas
y tiff and this boat OF the Achilles wer'
!. now employed in passing and repassipl
e between the two ships. taking off aut
: transporting the Cinnamon. These poo
!, fellows, not understanding our language
" ignorant OF toats and the sea. filed III
: chains. hung over the sides by ropes
struggling for the earliest places in ib
:, boats, and force was necessary TO keel
!, them from swamping the boats. In a
! bout ons bour and half after the hrs
| alarm was given. every person on boar'
! the Mastiff bad been safely placed oil
! board the Achilles, with the single excep
tioR Of Chinsmsn, who went below L
save his money chest, and was sufocated
His death was not known, except to
| few OF his countrymen unit! the mex
! day. -
When all the lives bad been saytd
a Capt. johnson gave bis attention to say
ing property and provisions. Tbespecie
: amounting TO nearly eighty three ihonsau'
: dollars. was taken out and sent TO th
J Achilles in charge Of our cbief-mste, Ef
! forts were made to get out bread and oths
provisions. to relieve the friendly sbg
from the tax upon her stores, but the 6r
:, had ads such progress in that part Q
the ship that noue could be got out. A
= soon as the more pressing duties 70 huma
" lives were preformed, the steward VIII
was conspicuous for selfpossession an
!, activity. had got out the oiief patt,of III
:, passengers baggage from the house deck
and very little 10 the house wss lost, tho
y all was lost which bad been placed below
= Most of the cabin passengers were still o
= = board OF choice. and aided in getting eu
IL their luggage. The house for, tie orel
y was on deck and much OF their effects wer
! saved. the Captain now giving libsrty 4
y all to save for themselves what they coul
Q At the same time with the luggage, ii
y stock Of animals received the attention i
% the master and officers
e When | came along tie ship the fir
! time with the boat. had 10 charge C,
7tthere being more boaisthan officers, ha
= taken charge Of one, Captain Jobusc
!. hailed meto come on board and have
y "peace coDfetence," asto whether sn.
= thing more could be done. "A suffocalin
u smoke rolled in blnck volumns covsre
y miles ofthe ocean. and the chance OF Il
I Iimprisoned burning through the decks
70 any instant, were not the most auspicioI
ne oiroumstancas for our ssealn conference,