New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-11
BURNING OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HORNET
IN TIE PACIFIC.
THE CREW IN OPEN BOATS ONE THOUSAND MILES FROM
LASD-DRRADFUL sUFFERIEGs OF THE SAILORS.
From The Pacific Commercial Advertiser.

From The Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
II has seldom been our lot TO chronicle more IN
disaster than the burning Of the Hornet one OF the
Of the California feet OF clippers or an escape more
proyidental than that OF portion Of the Ships COMPANY Ne
Thomas third officer Of the ship and Mr Cough sea
man. both Of whom have relatives residing In San Francisco
who will welcome them IS from the grave. .
The American ship iHSrnet Of 42s mns burden Captain
bound to Francisco with general cargo consisting y
coal iron 200 candles 400 kerosene OIL and
ne n.aal assortment OF miscellaneous Beyond
speaking one or two vessels nothing occurred the passage
out worthy Of uOte t O'Clock on the morning OF the ga
90 3,,ar ysrn.h taxing q lantern Willie so engaged
suddenly took place which set fire to the sails 10 the
sa-ocker between decks The seaman rushed on deck,
shouting fire. while the remained below trying TO put
ont the fire with blankets which he took of from three sick
The ship at this scuddins along beautifully under
knot southeast trade wind She had Just crossed the
bound to California in longitude ii2 q The bstches at the
time were oil for vsntating the ship as is customary Hard
ont Of the offer hatch communicating almost nsauaneousy
TO the "cros-aoksa which hanging clewed up. In
ard fire 20 the mansa With the first alarm Capt Nit
che promptly deck and set watch TO work en-
deavorng 10 control the hre While the other waoh wss
ordered lower the boats and get them ready The quarter
boats safely lowered without trouble but Ia aunchng the
long boat her bottom stove In By an eyeoo making hoe
In the bottom about foot square which was stopped up with
blankets and shirts during the entire cruise me BOATS were
provided with sails bat these being In the saiocker was
impossible get at them studdng sell mainroyal and
pieces Of canvas lying handy on the deck were thrown
the boats with what provisions were accessible consist
ing Of hams 10 tins Of assorted meats box Of raisns
7pirces Of pork 100 pounds Of bread and buckets o!
potatoes -Four demohns and barrel containing in all
bat 2 gallons Of water were also passed in the boats The
ships chronometer eptone compases quadrants and few
blankets we've also saved bat no c)hng except what tho
men stood in.
creeping aud leapne from spar to spar and enyeopng l1e
rigging sails and mass In vast sheet II lame IL was
impossible remain board any longer and at II O'clock
reoquarter OF an hour after the hrst alarm the order was
given leave the ship aud all hands took to the boats aud
pushed Off from the vessel Here of those grand sights
often described but seldom wtnesseda noble ship which an
hour before gliding cheery along her course now all
wrapped in flames from the deck TO the trucks grand and
costly pyroteehnlc display IN Thep the mas spars ana E
formed the bold outlines The enough 70 strike
into thu bavest heart when he remembered that was
900 miles TO the nearest land and the chances OF reach
ing land next TO none AT o'clock the ma5s OF the noOe
ship went her side but the burning hail. like hinge
lamp fed by 10000 gallons of kerosene and 600 boxes ofean
dies made on awful Lighting zoe a9son -, y
masses reaching 10 the very clouds
The boats remained BY the ship during the day and night
while she burning As the gradually consumed
the ship ghened Just would alongside dock when
dischaTgingc There explosions during the
ing burned through the hull to the the noble clipper
made plunge forward and down bow first leaving no
ing about This in north latitude % 20 west longitude
he g. about O0 miles due south ron Cape ST. Lucas Lower
California 500 miles east Of Hawaii.
During the first night Capt Mitchell who had throughout
the disaster shown eooness and bravery equal to the ocea
Sion distributed the into the three boots according to
their capacity In the long boat with him we're he two pas
sengers the third mate and eleven seamen follows
Capt Josiah A. Mitchell OF Maine; Messrs 5. and II. Fer
Nsina peter smith Of Amsterdam HAY Morris OF Havre
Fuonvie Mass; Joe Williams Of New Bedford "a native OF
Madeira)i Fred Congh Of Tnomaston Mane John Farrs
OF Madeira Thomas L. Tate Of Portsmouth, N H. James
Cox Of New York City, Antoine Passac Of Cape de Verde
Islands, Neal Turner OF New-YoTk City.
The second boat placed In charge OF the first officer
Samuel Hardy Of Chatham Mass Besides him there were
William Lang Of NewYork (whose father is stock broker
in that city, George Winthrop Of London EngaRd George
Washington eolored cook steward and four Others whose
names we have not vet learned
The third boat was in charge Of the second officer Mr. Parr
of North Shields England. With him the carpenter and
seamen whose have been able to obtain.
The provisions and water all equally distributed among
the three boats during the first night mas fitted and sails
permit Being in the track OF California vessels. Capt
Mitchell concluded it best to head nothwes m the same
beats were taken il tow by the long boat and thus they
started of In search Of some mode OF delirerance
The second day frequent light showers occurred and
four gallons OF water were obaned 10 add to their small
with scorchng rays on their unprotected heads.
The fourth day the course changed for Clarion Island
located IN longitude ia W. latitude is deg 80 n bat owing
strong winds and heavy sea- the boats unable fetch
up to - 80,
and Turtle we're caught aud divided among the three boats
giving the plenty Of raw meat but they had salt
put on an allowance Of gil of water bscn and bali
potato twice day. But when il rsined all hands
privileged to drink oil the water they could catch
For the days the winds continued eht and ban-
the long boat towing the other two all the while 7h
day out two boobies were caught which were divided
When Is DAYS out under strong trade wind Il was found
impossible for the long boat TO continue towing others as
the and jerking severe as 10 endanger her and
Can't Mitchell decided TO Off mates boat which was
decided for the same of the second mates
boat and after coming alongside dividing the beygarly rem.
nant stores and bidding each other they east on all
being IN good sprH Up TO this time the three boats were
stu 10 sight OF each other each having charge
and heading on the same That night they parted
company and the two mates boats have since been heard
from.
After reaching longitude ITO West and latitude l7o North
Captain Mitchell decided TO head for group ocat
cd according Bowditch In latitude 10 NJ longitude 1890
W. The boat spent several days cruising the posi-.
ton but found signs Of land thus they had endeAv
ored to keep In the usual track OF California bound clippers
In hope oil meeting passing sail But failing TO find land
here, they headed for Hawaii, distant go miles.
AZ this time they had meat and nothing eat but the
bare bones OF the ham, and the rolled In with
peE regular i've E Of water Pieces Of this canvas and