The Lincoln County herald., 1870-05-26
Another nOsrOr at Sea-
THE AMERICAN SHIP SUNBEAM BURNED
SIX OF THE CREW LOST.

SIX OF THE CREW LOST.
Tidings Of another terrible disaster of
the deep are at hand, and its horrors akin
to the many stories Of suffering and
death that OF late have been chronicled
Of the oceans sad vagaries. 1t appals
the heart when the details are perused Of
dreadful tornadoes, Kissing hurricanes
and drenching storms, so wild that
stanch vessels have been torn almost in
pieces, and their crew starving and dying
with thirst, sent 20 their final account
but when il is narrated that the sailors
dcadiest foe, Ore, has been at work, it is
enough to shake the sturdiest soul, and
draw expressions Of sympathy from the
most obdurate. 1t was the fate Of the
ship Sunbeamo--a good and true craft,
built in Chelses., but as the time engaged
in the Pacific Ocean trade-to be the
victim of the latter disaster on the 3lst
of March. She was destroyed by fire
eighty miles from shore, and but twelve
Of eighteen saved.
The Sunbeam loaded in the harbor Of
Iquiqui, Peru, during the latter part Of
February and first week in March, with
saltpetre, bound for Tome, Chili, for
which port she sailed on the 18th Of
March.
Nothing occurred to mar the pleasure
anticipated Of quickly reaching Tome,
until the 3Oth Of March, then being sew.
enteen days out, when the second mate,
usually cautious mariner, by an act
devoid of prudence, caused the picture Of
contentedness to suddenly change to one
Of dismay and death.
About noon Of the latter date, this
officer, desirous Of giving the upper deck
little neaser appearance, suggested to
the Captain that he intended to varnish
it, which, meeting with bis appreciation,
he foolishly procured an open light, and
descended to the after hold, where the
article desired was conveniently slowed,
and attempted to draw it; but it was the
last act Of ships duty he ever did, as the
flames of the lamp coming in contact
with the fumes of the flowing va nish, a
terrific explosion occurred, and the demon
FIRE with hundred hands was working
destruction on every side. In an instant
it seemed to pervade the entire hold, and
before the frightened and burned mate
with bis clothes on fire, could reach deck,
} plosion after explosion was heard as
the fire licked up the iuaamable saltpetre,
and the flames danced with glee up the
hatchway. So sudden did the terrible
truth break upon the crew that for mo
meut they were paralyzcd, but looking
!. around and realizing that beneath them
was seething volcano, and the forked
tongues of their enemy were working to
every part of the vessel, creeping through
the decks and climbing the masts, they
must act.
When the first explosion was heard
! Capt. Chadwick, who had been below
rushed on deck, and, although, but mo
ment had intervened, he was staggered tc
see the flames forcing their way SO saw
agely through the hatchway. Nothing
could be done. Smoke all around, blind
ling, suffocating, and the boats could not
=, be reached. He askad no qustions, but
looking into the seething cauldron below
told the men to save themselves and pray
, to God to help them all.
With this word the men leaped into
the sea and attempted to cling to the spar.
and boards they had already thrown over
board, but in vain for many of them. H
ten minutes from the ignition of.the var
nish the mainmast was topping, and ir
thirteen minutes it went over the side
and gasping, drowning men clung will
life in view to its charred remains. Whel
this had gone aud the fire was creepin,
: atong the rigging to the foremast Cap
tein Chadwick took his little son in hi
arms and jumped over the side into tn
ocean. Happily he caught hold Of
+ studding sail boom which saved his ant
r his sons lives. So terrible was the hea
, at this time that the faces Of some Of tn
j. men by the ships side we're blistered an,
cooked, and thus, to change their position
=. and place their backs to the barniu,
d mass, six poor fellows dropped from thei
s places Of security aud, frightened an
: exhausted, sank to rise no more. a.
When despair had settled upon th
!. survivors hearts, and the captain an
: half. drowned sailors felt that no earthl
a power could save them, the fastenings o
the quarter boat fortunately burned away
and the boat falling into the water righ
side up, one Of the crew secured it, an
finding the oars in it, at once began t
pick up the thankful souls about hin
In few minutes the captain, his sou
the 6rst mate, Marshal johnson, = boy
e. H. Robert', seaman, tho cook aud o,
other sailors were taken in, and they hov
of as far as possible from the fast Sc,
tliag wreck.
Twenty minutes from the 6rst explo
sion the Sunbeam sank from sight. l
was fearful how the FIRE still kept creep
ing through the vessel. Varnish an
saltpetre. thousands of sacks of the latter
sent the wicked darts Of fire upward sn'
around. Mast after mast fell, aud abou
ten minutes past twelve the last bubblinl
hiss was heard aud the noble craft Of al
hour before was thing Of the past.
Whom the last look had been taken o