The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-23

raj, III. Page, ana Degged nlm 70 senu III
search Of the missing boats, as well as to the
rescue of the coolies. With the greatest
readiness this request was at once complied
with, and the steamer Gironde was dispatch
ed with orders to proceed to the scene OF the
disaster. Our men were transferred to an
other vessel to De sent on to Hong Kong;
Captain johnson, his brother and myself
proceeding in the Gironde. On the Znd OF
November we were again in sight OF the
reef. No relic of the gallant craft we mad
left appeared, until on proceeding closer IN
boat, the port side, from the main chalns
forward, could be seen floating, attached TO
the remainder of the wreck by the rigging,
together with thu bowsprit and jibboom and
the top of what seemed to be the main sky
sail mast. Of $50 coolies not one remained.
Close to the rect, within short distance OF
the wreck, on the southeast side, the boat
sounded and found no bottom at twenty
seven fathoms, and within a mile, to the
northwest, the steamer found no bottom at
seventy fathoms. The breakers on the reef
extended about one third OF mile, IN
curved line from northeast to southwest
They were very narrow--not over l00 yards
in width
The position, according to the calculation
on board the Gironde, was 10 deg. Is min.
n, l13 deg. 80 min. E., while Capt. johnson
made 1t 10 deg. Is min. NJ, lis deg. 70 min.
e. Nothing remained to be done. The un.
happy coolies had doubtless persisted, and
We at once shaped oar course for Manila,
where we arrived on the 9th of November.
The loss Of this splendid ship cannot fail
to excite general interest, when it Is re-
membered that in all probability 500 hum an
beings (not to speak of the eighteen Euro
peans in the missing boats) have persisted
with her.
1t was impossible for US to make any at
tempt to save these coolies. More humane
men than Capt. johnson and his brother,
Mr.. j !. I johnson, do not exist; but the crew
were SO terrified on that disastrous night,
that it was only by exertiOns almost beyond
belief, on the part of the captain, his broth
err and few Others, that the safety of the
crew was secured. They would have hur-
ried from the ship without provisions, and
would infallibly have persisted. What could
be done with such crew in the way OF
providing for the renewal snd feeding $50
coolies? and moreover what confidence could
be placed in the forbealance OF the latter
that they would not rash upon the remain
ing boats, swamp them, and thus destroy
the only chance by which any of US could
hope to be saved2 But we had the most
serious reasons ior distrustiug the coolies at
this. crisis. AS have said, we left Macao on
Saturday, October 9th. IN the following
Monday all seemed settled to their places, and
the coolies appeared comfortable and settled
to their places, &c. can affirm that no
intermediate passengers, not even English
soldiers in an English transport, receive bet
ter treatment on board ship than did these
coolies ON board the Flora Temple.
Three days after we had left Macao, the
watch on deck being scattered about the
ship and the guard at the port gate-wbich
had been erected by the coolies and the crew
who slept aft-being away from his post, 1.-The
coolies, who had collected ON deck in large
numbers, suddenly iell upon the guard at
the starboard gate, struck him on the head
with an iron Delaying pin, drew out his
sword, cut him with it irightfully and dis
patched him with the carpenters Ratchet;
they then made rush to the cabins for the
arms. While this was going on aft, the
coolies forward were calling out, "ire,"
"ire," to induce the watch forward to 60
below.
Fortunately the captain had come on the
poop Just in time to see the rush aft. He
Immediately ran into bis stateroom, seized
his revolver, and called me up; his brother
armed himself, and half dozen shots from
them put the mutineers to rout, but not be-
fore one of the crew had been hacked to pie
ces and killed, several others wounded. The
coolies were armed with the cooks axes,
chain hooks, iron Delaying pins, iron bolts,
knives, handspikes, marlingspikes, and eve
ry thing they could lay their hands upon
Some OF the more adventurous had penetra-
ted to the staterooms, and but tor the sud-
den panic produced by the shots, it is i'm
possible to see what could have saved u.s.
All must have been lost.
A strict inquiry brought to light deep
laid and widely extended scheme Tor killing
US all and taking possession oil the ship-all
81
their contract papers as kind Of pledge or
guarantee to the ring-leader, from whom
they were to receive $40 man. We could
find no limit to the number Of those who,
directly or indirectly, were implicated in
this plot.
The Sons OF TEMPERANCE AND THE
PREsIDENT.-The Washington bConstitu-
ton thus describes an interview of the
Grand Division of the Sons of Temper
ance with the President of the United
States l
Yesterday the Sons of temperance, re-
presenting very large and most worthy
portion of the people of the United States,
paid their respects to President Buchan-
an. Upwards of one hundred and fifty
gentlemen, with freshness and health
fulness of aspect and general appearance
of vigor and elasticity which temperate
habits only can produce, were introduced
to him in the East room.
B. CAN'T, the Grand Worthy Patri-
arch of the Order, addressed the Presi-
dent in cordial and glowing speech
He referred to the President himself, sig
nifcantly, as an example of temperance.
His apparent health, his vigor, his activi-
ty, his capacity, and habits of labor, all
indicated temperance in all things. The
remarks of the Patriarch were to the
point, and we'll delivered.
President Buchanan replied with his
accustomed readiness and felicity. He
had always been temperate man. Be
fore societies had been thought of, he had
ever exercised moderation in eating as
well az in drink inn--and To this cnntrnl