The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-24

The starlight OF the Southern Cross,
The sword Of Raphael Semmes
Pennon and plume the waves entomb
The nrond l.cces cf the free,
In that great glaive that Arthur gave
In guerd0n to the sea.
Torch Hill, Columbus Georgia.
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Il SHIP BURNED At SEA.
Supposed Loss OF 9iXty-One Lives-SuE.
ferings OF the Observation-Disclosures
In March last tn, British ship Blue Jacket
was burned at sea, while on her way from New
Zsaland to England. Out of sixty nine PER
Sons on board only eight are known 10 have
been saved. The London Herald publishes
The following letter from one of the SURVIVORS,
addressed to his motner, and dated at Port
Stanley. Falkland Islands. April %:
will tel. You what has happened on board
the Blue Jacket since she left Lyttleton up to
February 19. We had seven sa. oon passen.
gers grown up, twelve second cabin, and
seven children. I'll young, snd etewardess OF
the saloon. OF the passengers there we're six
ships company ali told, forty-two. Total num-
ber OF people on board. sixty-two. and sever.
children. There was little sea sickness at
'ba soon We made
On the 7th OF March we passed the Falkland
Islands IN sight, Little dreaming at that time,
lpng. '-'- ~ .
on FmE.
But on the Tuesday following there was a
scene that never wish to view az in. About
half past one In the afternoon smoke was seen
issuing out Of the fore hatchway. We well
knew what was the matter, and Id about ten
minutes inne there was good supply Of water
oinc vHlo rod r1Y0Or, ~ TN,oro Cav,
but very tense smoke arising. AS soon as the
captain saw thati was likely to prove serious.
he told Mr.. Williams to get the yacht slung
ana rows & and Ire ready for gong over t9e
tor lowering and provlsioned, In the mean
time. had few hands shortening sail. While
this was proceeding tie pumps were still kept
going, every one working for his life.
It ha" pened to be a very fine afternoon:
everything was beng done to extlnguisa the
lire, and y out six O'Clock we ,houg ht We would
gebthe up er hand Of It,. Half an hour after
wards it broke out ten times worse than ever.
We stall kept hard at it until little after nine
that night, ut which time the Goals that were
IN the forepa.t had caught fire, and in ten
minutes after the whole OF the fOrecastle was
In blaze. Then our fate appeared sealed.
CAST ADRIyr.
The order was gwen to get the yacht over
the sice, which was done with great r.sk OF
limbs. as there was a nasty sea running, but
che was got over all safe. Before lowering her
into her all safe, then lowered her; after winch
the remaining passengers got IN. the fire in
the. the means,me ss working ait very rapidly An the
watch. In the slarboard boat, MI Mr.. Bell I0 ana md
his watch. l WAS in the yacht. The other
boats left the ship little before US, for we
coud not prevail upon the CAP Jain for some
would have left her il he had n 1t promised the
ladies that he would take charge OF them. He
said he did not like to leave the old ship.
About an hour after We left the foremast fell.
over the side; half an hour afterwards the
main and ml1zen followed it's example, with a
heavy crash. The vessel WINS then in one mass
to witness. We kept as near the ship as pos
sible, thinking vessel might see the fire and
bear down to her; bat there was no such luck.
Next day there was y dead calm. and Mr. Will
hams came on board the yacht, so we straight
ened up the boat q little and made things more
comfortable. In the evening the captain told
me to go to the mates boat and Mr.. Williams
to stay in the yacht. Soon after dark breeze
sprung up, aud was increasing all night. We
kept together all night by means Of lanterns,
. which a;I we .. hsld up every nov and then Next
the breeze was still increasing, aad in two
hours tune we pi ked them up.
MIR. Williams did not make any sign to come
into bis boat again. SO when the captain gave
MS the courss to the Falkland Islands we went
ito aee 1t we could pick the other boat up.
Before We could see her the yacht was out OF
sight. When We came up to the seeoud mat e's
boat we both lowered our calls and hove to, for
the yacht to got up to Us again. While we
were waiting We had dinner, which consisted
OF about quarter OF q pound Of preserved
meat, 2 very few bits OF biscuit (Which had got
and not quite two -gilis Of water. We had q
pretty good supply of provisions and water.
but We knew not how long We would have to be
inthe boat before we were picked up or reach
ed land, We waited there some time, but no
yacht was 10 bo seen. ard we. were fioslng the
fair wind, 30 we asked Mr. Bell Il he was going
10 wait any longer He said NO. With that
e sSe ws se %e .ad bssse e egt
moved. We still went on, but during the night
r the wind shifted round right dead against us go
we steered for the man land, as IL was impos-
Hrsibe for us to reach the Islands. We never
saV eeither OF the boats after that.
DEATH IN TIE BOAT
q There were fifteen OF us ia one boa. there
were twenty seven adults and seven CHILDREN
IN me yacht, and the rest with Mr.. Bell, second
mate. have no doubt tathers would recoliect
I onr boat. six days aker we left the ship We
= Killed IT, drank the blood and ate the flesh.
Slx da,s afser that was the commencement OF
boes es norrors orr 1i r a% Gasawsy crew One ofthe
water. We managed to keep 1t from hlm dur.
ing the dsytlme buO at night be would go. it.
n ae was out "f Ills mlno about eleven hours be-
fore he died We buried the poor lad as well
as we cou under the circumstances. We
read the burial service for the dead at sea. but
We had nothing to sink him with. It was a
painful task. but 1t was the will OF God. We
prayed TO the almighty in that boat with more
earnestnes~ than any Of ns had ever done b.
iore Wo uid zee death staring us in tue
race. Day after day u /, land, 40 vessel Five
aud seaman. he latter poor follow, died
from u ter debility and old age The carpen-
Ter. wh" was q sfine, tall man overlslx feet.
dled from drlnk'ng SAT- water. They were
Doth Romi Ca hQlics. The carpenter has
lett wife, with foul Eve cnildren, 10 mourn
ther loss. Two days after ,auother man died
ravine nd ,hrongn salt water; no was the
healthlest looking man in tho boa,.
Tnere weie two others ,(the sailmaker and
ope seama!'l out ot tneir mind. We expected
they woud b gong off at any momelt. Next
aa! noihh Ill sight; v Q ,houyhL the Almighty
had eakfast which was one sard,De, seome
pitcn't thai We had to squeeze tn get the salt
water out nd about two tabiespoonsfnls OK
i 10 - 80. ~ >I.1 -