Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-13
Death of Lord Mayor OF Dublin
The Spaufsh Bourbon<.
HORRIBLE AFFAIR
Burning of n CooIie Ship at Sea-5o0
Coolies Perish I'm the Flames.

SAN Francisco, CAL, June 13-Details of
the total destruction by fire of the Peruvian ship
Don Juan, at sea, have been received. 1t l.
supposed that she was set on fire by the coolies
entrapped on board at Macao, China. The crew
abandoned the vessel leaving $50 coolies fastened
under the matches. Five hundred were roasted
alive, and the others escaped when the matches
burned of. The vessel was American built, and
sold in San Francisco TO "Compania Martina
De Peru" and rechristened Do Ores Uqarte
She was fitted out here for the coolie trade, and
returned several times for supplies.
San Francisco special gives the following
particulars Of the burning OF the ship Don j uan:
The Don Juan loaded at Mscar on the 4th of
May, taking $50 coolies on board for Peru, and
on the 9Th Of May was burned 70 the waters
edge not more than fifty miles from Hong Kong.
The coolies who have arrived i'm Hong Kong all
aver that their treatment was humane, and they
had nothing to complain Of, either as 70 allow
ance Of food or variety or quantity, and the
whole affair was accidental. The other view
that the vessel was set on fire by designing men
among the Chinese, II not impossible. One of
the men distinctly ayers that he heard the ex-
odor of IL. Others assert they did not hear any
report, and that they were nearly overpowered
by sickness from the smell Of the ships material
European who had the humanity 20 open the
matches did not succeed I'm saving his own life
as he was overtaken by the coolies, who made
rush at the boat waiting for him, and
the Europeans using arms 70 prevent the
coolies from getting in it. In the scramble seye-
Snlncese were urOWneO. Inc boat, however,
ultimately succeeded in getting clear OF the ship:
but had not gone far when IL upset, within sight
Of but not within reach of the coolies The
coolies seemed TO have a little leisure to look
around, when they observed the other three
boats at distance. During this time all the
materials of the ship were rapidly burning, and
large number persisted in the hold, some Of
whom were suffocated, and the cries from
the others were piteous. Many, however,
jumped into the water and escaped by
drowning the more horrible death by fire
A number remained on the deck and bOwsprit,
and whilst in this position one OF the masts gave
way and the Coolies at once made such efforts as
they could to reach It. having got TO il they chung
with desperation, calling as loud as they could 70
save their lives. They had not been long in the
water before passing junk came up and they
taken on two or three at a time. The mast was
vas held on the wreck by wire rigging or IL
would otherwise have drifted away 70 sea
The Coolies state that there were no less than
dfty Europeans on the vessel, and Il remains 20
see what became OF them, some no doubt being
lost in the boat that swamped.
1t is reported that thirty Of the crew have ar
rived at Maco, and they are unanimous in stating
tia the Coolies mutined and set fire 70 the ship
aft in the hope Of pressing all forward and 50
take the vessel. 1t seems they thought the fire
could be extinguished afterwards.