The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-19

Frigifh Loss OF Lfe-seariy n Thouand
Human Beinys Cast ivay,
ke., &C., &c.

Ire ioowiny graphic report Of the terrible wrek VI
he American clipper ship Flora Temple Oh ni'ni0'
the China sea on the sh of October with the loss Of 500
COOLIES and IS Europeans has been sent us from ho's
Kong by the overland route from China via harseines
IL is write by Dr. A. p. Childs, r. r. c. 81 who was
passcy rer on and consequently an eye witness 70
me fearful scores he describes 30 wildly.
Tho following is his letter.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
HoSG Kong, China, Nov. 13, 1859.
sktp,rk Of the A~erican Cippr Ship Flora Temple in
the CAsna ScaPyobabe Loss Of $50 ccies and Is Euro
-Grcphsc Description by Passsger7Ae Striking
On he Rocks Panic Among the 0rew--Appreheasoa Of
Coolie vio,ence-The Taking to ire Small Borts AMI
Abandonment Of he Ship-Au the Coolies Len Behind
SxUayatioa fthe Boats in Sdrm-Sdfe Arrival Of
of Tb.ran IN Cochin China--Only Thirty Lires
Sared-Suppose7 Sramringp f he Other Bout, Coa,an
inc the First cKd Stooad Mates Fourteen Men and foo
Boys--Bision q he French Steamer Gironde Search
e|he Wreck--No. Single Surr,ror Fband-Accoant Of
the Voyage If The Flora Temple Precious TO the Wreck
Outbreak Of ne Coolies and Murder Of Intrepid
Conduct Of the Captain. de-. dc.
The Flora Temple, as fine a merchant ship perhaps
ever entered the China Sea- left Macao for Havana
Saturday morning the sth Of October, 1859, having
board of fy, all told and eight hundred and atty
coolies On the following Friday the l4h of 0,tober, at
ESQ p NJ, she struck upon Of numerous reefs NJ,
marked uron the charts which render the navigation OF
The China Sea uncertain ard dangerous
For two days previous gale Of wind had been blowing
from S W, accompanied by high sea, durng which
soil had been reduced 10 double rcefei topsas and
courses and although Friday morning the wind had
much abated sn remained $. w. Shifting westerly
the captain unwilling to make more sail fearing lest
current might have Sc, the ship 10 the easward In he
direction Of the reefs marked upon the charts fortn-
natcy the sights a, twelve O'Clock and in the morning
were good and quite reliable, and position seemed 70
be SO far thirty six mes) 10 the westward OF the most
westerly reefs in the latitude IN which then were
tina, {he ship coming up to s. y E the captain, having
ordered good lockout to be KEEP. on the foretopsai.
yard, apprehended no niger from standing on until
eight O'Clock p. NJ, at which hour he had given orders
that the ship should be put about twas 100 7, NJ
that on coming upon poop deck from the table he
inquired IL good lookout was kept from the topsal
yard The officer on the deck said eyes" He was sent
for gard TO see, and had barely reached tho forecasts
when we heard the cry of "Hard up" from the lookout
The helm instantly put hard up and the spanker low
BRED. No sooner was this done than lizard down" wRs
heard from the officer, who by this time had
m again to the gangway. In fact the ship within
very short distance Of the breakers which could b.
distinctly and heard from the after part Of the poop
where standing and which extended in curved
line from about four points sarboard bow to about
shrec points port bow they close aboard;
seemed impossible long ship Ike the Flora Temple
should escape them and although the yards we're braced
round and the ship hove aback she struck first slightly
end then very afterwards, several times with tire
endous crash the breakers running very high alongside
Such the position from which !. was found impossi
Die 10 exircaie her Pieces Of the bers and planing
Aoated up ON the port sde and after very
~itr
Having list apor the had rapidly increased from
two and half feet till had reached the between decks,
where the coolies were. There no longer shadow
o ground hope that the vessel could be preserved
While this was going on-ndced almost Immediately after
the ship first struoka fear that the coolies would rise
murder board seemed 10 have possessed ilsel OF
the minds Of the crew, 70 such height did this rise,
that the captain (having the time however intsn
tion of abandoning the ship had the two quarter ools
lowered and placed an ocer and ave men IN each, with
orders 10 near the ship SO that refuge might
DO at hand, by any chance they sboiid
become needGl The crew were thoroughly
manned their only anxiety seemed to be to leave the
ship no how, and had not been for the captain,
his interchangeable brother and two others board
The boats would have LEFT the ship absolutely unprovded
With the nerest neccssarics of hfe-the coui9 BE-
got do nothing. The boats we're lowered abod, ten
o'clock. About twelve the other small boats we're got out
sney ami there now remained only the longooaf which
the panic stricken had declared impossible TO
get out Fifteen, with the captain remained board.
The labor and difficulty Of getting this boat out ian
mense The captain had TO ciino the mainstly hook
the tackle but at last 1t was got out at about A. IT.,
and with It's crew passed safely over the breakers Ia
medatey before leaving the ship the lead was hove aud
four aihon found under her bows and stern and
three fahoms sdshps just through the breakers there
bottom at fourteen fahoins The earliest lights OF
morning were now showing themselves il the east and
after the day broke the coolies were all collected
the upper decks The ship then appeared 10 remain al
most without notion all her masts were standing, she
had a strong LIST aport her back was broken, aud the
main and monkey rails and waterways we're also broken
amidshps, the making clean breach over her star
b0ar
extremity Of the line of breakers, the captain
In The ,oprboat Joined the qasrter boat, with
with the second mate in charge having deserted US
during the night alarmed probably at the firing OF guns
which, terrified ears, seemed TO dcdote another
outbreak Of the coolies. The captain had ali transferred
from the dingies the ongboss aid quarter boat aad
about nine A. NJ sail made TO the west ward. In
very shor, time the wind increased Till became severe
gale from ". s. W, accompanied by tremendous seq
and heavy rain. The boats parted company, and
henccforh only speak Of the one in which, by the
providence Of God after fourten days and nights OF OK
posurc, arrived safely at Toaran, IN Coeha China
During Saturday, the 18th, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
Wednesday Ihrrsday and Friday, the gale continued
without Abatement and remained hove TO under close
rcefed mainsai with bucket veered out to twenty
fathoms Tie boat was an open one, aud We were
drenched With the that broke US and with the
rain which night and day ccntinued almost without In
Permission rs Il seemed 20 US. We were covered with
salt water bols our feet were terribly swollen and pain
full had saved nothing but what We stood In, and had
no change wet biscuit and half pint Of water day
all dared TO venture on sleep was almost impos-
sable; the men sat moody, wetched and dsheartened
How open bost small as the We had could 1--we
IN soch mystery Some dtshearteaed,
when the cheeri day declined TO cheerless
night In open boat with heavy gale Of wind tire.
mendous sea- angry sky with lightning and thunder Of
the most startling kind, Of could have been so
stold to feel what was to watch as those who
wait for the morning" On Saturday the wind
and sea aba,ed, and Sunday was ane. Fortu
nately, the captain had saved bis sextan and
chart and as he found had drifted far north
Il deg he determined make for Touran, the French
settlement in Cochin China, hoping also to fa In with
aail on the following Wednesday, the 18th day from
the wreck the land to the south Of Touran and
remained all night tied fishing stake, on account OF
the strong which the hight before had swept
70 the Souh and the next evening to great JOY came
IN sight Of the ast OF the French squadron Torran
Il was impossible for US TO weather the cape 10
reach them that night and went into small harbor
~ the foot Of the mountain to the south OF the bay
Of Tourau, where the Inhabitants OF small fishing vii
lage received Hospitality and again enjoyed the
Injuries OF warm food aud IRE. Tue evening we
reached Touran Sebe and exhausted we our
selves believed, and were received on beard II l. NJ
steamer 6ironde and from her officers and tho FrencA
authorities received the utmost kindness and attention
We were thirty In number including Captain john.
h,a hroth no boat