The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-03-13
LOSS OF A VESSEL WITH $50 CHINA
MEN ON BOARD.

A letter from China to the New York Journal
of Commerce, gives the particulars of the late
wreck of the American ship Flora Temple, with
$50 Coolies on board, every one of whom was
drowned. The vessel laid off Macao and took in
her cargo The Coolies were cheated, inveigled,
or stolen, and either taken directly to the ship
else confined In the barracoons IN Macao till the
ship was ready to sail for Havana--the crew
numbering fifty, and the Coolies eight hundred
and fifty. The letter continues:
Leaving Macao October 9Th Saturday, the
deceived and stolen Coolies soon learned their
cruel destiny and as all injured and betrayed men
would do resolved to attempt to avert it, however
desperate the chances. They had arms, and
therefore had to struggle with every disadvantage
in the effort of recovering their liborty. party
collected on the deck on Tuesday morning, before
the shores of their own loved country had forever
disappeared from their eyes, and rushing upon the
guard, single individual, fight ensued, in which
the guard was killed.
In the meantime, the captain, johnson, hearing
the noise hurried upon deck with his revolver, and
his brother and an Englishman interested in the
kidnapping with him, both also armed with re-
volvers, who discharged halfa-dozen rounds into
the coolies who were thus driven back, and defeat
ed in their attempt to recover their liberty. How
many killed and wounded it is for the interest
of the kidnappers not to TELL and the dead also tell
no tales. Afriend informs me that they driven
below deck. and confined there like felons almost
without light and air, and where crowded together
so large number in so narrow space, the greater
part must inevitably have perisaed in the long
middle passage. Think of $50 human beings, all
full grown men pressed into this contracted. ray
less, arless dungeon, in which they we're to be de-
ported from China to Havana, all the long way
over the China Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the
Atlantic! j
On the following Friday, Oct IA, while sailing
ov ver the China Sea- at u ocl,,ck in the evening,
the vessel struck upon reef which is not laid
down in charts, gale of wind in meantime blow:
ing, and the running high. Every effort was
made to save the ship by the officers and crew; the
poor coolies battened down beneath the decks, be-
ing allowed no chance to aid in saving the ship or
themselves. Although the yards were "braced
around" and the ship shove back" she struck,
first slightly. and then after, several times,
with tremendous crash, the breakers running
alongside very high. Pieces of her timbers and
planking foated up on her port side and after some
more heavy thumps she remained apparently i'm
movable. The water rapidly increased in the hold
till it reached the ''between-decks, where the $50
coolies were confined. While this was going on
indeed almost Immediately after the ship first struck
the officers and crew very naturally became afraid
of the coolies for the treatment they had received,
and the Captain ordered the boats to be lowered
not to save the coolies in whole or in part but to
preserve himself and crew. These boats, even
under favorable circumstances, were not more than
sufficient for the officers and crew, showing that
no provision had been made for the poor coolies in
case of disaster.
The boats passed safely through the breakers,
leaving the ship almost without motion, all her
masts standing, her back broken and the sea max
ing clear breach over her starboard quarter.
When the boats left the ship and steered away
without making one effort to the $50 coolies,
Or allowing them to do anything to save themselves
With their last look toward the ship they saw that
The coolies had escaped from their prison through
1oors which the conclusion had made for them and
stood clustering together. helpless and despairng,
lpon the decks. and gazing upon the abyss which |
vas opening its jaws to receive them. My friend |
assures that he knows these poor creatures were
completely imprisoned all the night these terrible |
occurrences going on, the matches being |
'battened down." and made as secure as jail-door |
1nder lock and bars.
The ship was three hundred miles from land |
when it struck and after fourteen days of toll and
struggle one of the boats only succeeded in reach
ng Towron, in Cochin China; the three other
,oats were never heard Of Here the French feet
vas lying, and the Admiral at once invited the
captain and his boats crew on board one of his
hips, and besides, at request, sent one of his ves
els to the fatal of the disaster, where some
# the wreck was to be seen but not single coolie
Every one of the eight hundred and fifty had per-
shed!
ANIMAL FOOD-Dr. Hays, in his "Arctic Boat
Journey" reports that the Esquimaux live upon
N exclusively animal diet their daily allowance of
ood being from twelve to fifteen pounds about
me third of it being fat The doctor states that
le has seen an Esquimaux eat fully ten pounds of
Valrus flesh and blubber at single meal, after
unt or when about to begin difficult journey.
This large consumption of hearty food is great
HELD against the cold. White men in Arctic
egions continually craving a strong animal
et and will drink the contents of an oil kettle
nth evident relish A choice Esquimaux lunch
onsists of raw birds washed down with OIL and the
reat luxury of the tribe is soup made by boiling
ogether blood, OIL and seal meat.
A BARBARoUs CUsToM.-It is said the fashion
seating the ladies at the further end of the slips
r pews at church, originated in consequence of
be anticipated attacks from the savages in the
arly settlement of the country. The men placed
themselves at the outer end for the double purpose
protecting the females, or being ready to get out
1ithout obstruction in case of alarm. If this
e true, it may well be said to be bdrbdroms
ustom; and since it is 80 inconvenient let it not
e persisted In to the annoyance of a whole
congregation, by four or FIVE gentlemen stepping
ITO the broad aisle, to let lady pass in.
FsWhy don't you limit yourself?" said physi- r
ian to an intemperate person-'fset down stake
hat yo,, will on so far and No farther" l.