The New York herald., 1870-05-11
BURNED AT SEA.
The American Ship Sunbeam Destroyed
on the Pacific.
Moments Of Horror-The Vessel Sinks Within
Twenty Minutss-The Crew Leap Into the Sea
aid Six are Lost-Ths Survivors Rescued
by Whaling Eark-Arrival Of Cap
tain Chadwick and Son at This Port.

by Whaling Eark-Arrival Of Cap
tain Chadwick and Son at This Port.
Tidings Of another terrible disaster OF the deep are
at hand its horrors akin to the many stories OF
suffering and death that of late have been chronl-
cled OF the oceans sad vagaries 1t appas the heart
when the details perused OF dreadful tornadoes
kissing hurricanes and drenchng storms, 81 wild
that staunch vessels have been torn almost In
pieces, and their crews. starving and dying with
thirst sent 10 their final account; but when 1t is
narrated that the sailors deadnest foe fire, has been
at work, and the imagination pictures gallant ship.
many miles from shore, burned TO the waters edge
within twenty minutes OF the st alarm, and six OF
courageous crew, alter battling with the clemens
and are scared and scorched, yet ind watery
grave, II Is enough to shake the sturdiest
soul. and draw expressions OF sympathy from tho
most obdurate. 1t was the fate OF the ship Sun.
beam-a good and true craft built in Chelsea, Mass
but at the time engaged In the Pacific Ocean trade
to be the victim Of the latter disaster on the 8lst
Of March last she was destroyed by fire eighty
miles from shore, and but twelve Of crew Of
eighteen saved. t grs e.s sss,3.
Captain Joseph Chadwick and his son. a youth OF
about ten years. OF the lost ship, to this port
yesterday from Aspinwall by the steamship Arizona
and although he has not been as desrous as the ma
particulars OF this deplorabe misfortune enough u
known 70 form o connected account W. ,ss se
the Tss ossaa u IAsr the aor Of ~
Peru, during The latter part OF February and drit
week ~ March. with saltpesre bound d.. FOR T Tome.
the oi,cers and crew expecting short and pleasant
voyage. Tie DAYS passed on with favorable winds.
Joyous er reaaatlon as the the sturdy vessel made
rapid strides toward her destination. Nothing
reaching Tomd, until the 3oth OF March. then being
seventeen days out, when the second mate, usually
9se nc7s oy y an a q
change to one OF dismay and death.
About noon OF se latter after date this ocer desrous
OF giving tho upper deck little neater appearance,
suggested to the lain that he intended to varnish
II, which, meeting his appreciation, he fool hy pro-
cured an open eht and descended to the after hold,
where the article desired was conveniently slowed,
Of sSps duty y he ever d a. the ames Of tSs
lamp coming in contact with the fumes Of the now
| demon fire with O hundred hands was working
destruction on every SIDE. In an instant It seemed
] and burned mate, with his clothes on fire, could
EXPLOSION AFTER EXPLOSION
was heard as The fire licked up the inammabe salt
pstrc, and the flames danced With glee up the ha CHI
way. SO sudden did the terrible trath break upon
,tlle crew that for moment they were paralyzed.
but looking around and realizing that beneath
them was a seethiIg volcano, ana the forked
OF the vessel creeping through the. decks and ciimb-
T: ing the masts, they must act. 1t was q critical
| THE CAPTAINS EFFORTS.
| When the hrst explosion was heard Captain Chad
% WcK. who naa been below, rushed on deck and,
| staggered TO see the flames forcing their way SO
sayageiy Through the hatchway. Nothing could be
done. Smoke all around, binding, Suffocatny, ana
the boats could not be reached lie asked no ques-
tons, but looking INTO the seething caudron below.
told the men TO themselves and pray to God to
| help them all. With This word the
| asa.9 MEN LEAPED INTO THE SEA
| and attempted TO cling 10 the spars and boards they
/ ID
| OF them. In ten minutes from the ignition OF the
varnish the maininast was topping, and IA thirteen
ing. drowning men clung. with life in view
! to its charred remains. When this had gone
the foremast Captain CHADWICK took his istle son
in his arms and jumped the side inlo the
Which saved his and his sons lives SO terrible WAS
the heat at this time that the faces OF some OF the
and thus, TO change their positions and place their
backs to the burning mass, SIX poor fellows dropped
from their places OF insecurity and frightened and
exhausted, sank to rise no more
/ FALLING or THE QUARTER BOAT.
When despair had settled npen the survivors,
felt that no earthly power could save them the fast
enings of the quarter boat fortunately burned away.
and the boat falling In the water right size up. one
Of tie crew secnred IT, and nndng the oars in it, ut
once began to pick up the thankful souls about him.
In few minutes the captain, his son, the first mate
Marshal Johnson a boy, f. II. Roberts, seaman, the
cook aud six other sailors were taken in, and they
how'd OIL as far as possible from the fPstsettgg
| wreck.
| GofNd DOWN. 49,.
Iwepty minutes from the first explosion tho Sun
beam sahk frjih Sight 1t was fearful how tile fire
still Kept creeping through the vessel Varnish and
sapetre, thousands OF sacks Of the latter, sent the
! wicked darts OF fire upward and around. Mast
after mast fell, and about ten minutes past twelve
O'Clock p M on tie 3lst OF March last In latitude
| thirty degrees foTtyfour minutes, about eighty
miles from shore the last bubbling hiss was heard
and the noble craft OF an hour before was thing Of
| the past.
When the last look had been taken OF the dsap-
pearng wreck the boat with its to eve souls, drfteI
work to be done, and That quickly, as they had
! nothing 10 eat and nothing 10 drink. But deliver
| ance was at hand. and when but an hour or so In
| WHALING BARK CHARLES W. MORGAN
Captain Athern, then on cruise, having seen the
| hre miles away, bore down 10 their position ana
Talcahuano, Chile. From this place the party made
| their way up to Panama.
or the saved, twelve in number, but four names
! are known-Captain Chadwick, his son, o. IA. Rob
and Marshal Johnson None Of the names of the
six os ay eren vge and ey yee ~efe e seen Pa
haps their tragic fate may never be ascerained BY
| their friends.
TUE SHIP suNBEAM--HER OWNERS
The ship Sunbeam was built in Chelsea Mass in
| 1865 She was OF oak and fastened with copper AMI
iron. she had two decks, drew eighteen feet OF
was owned by Messrs. Augustus Hemanway Co.,
II is understood that Captain CHADWICK and SON
night.
Another Burning Vessel.
Captain Tingley. or the British brig Leona, ten days
from Matanzas, arrived In this port last evening,
and reported that on the 1st nst in the Straits OF
close enough 20 distinguish what she was but She
seemed TO be laden with cotton. At the time avesse