The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-18
STEAMSHIP HENRY CHAUNCEY.
Reported Total Destruction by Fire
at Body Island, On the
Virginia Coast.
Safety Of the Passengers and
Crew.

letter, bearing date OF the 10Th inst ana giving
intelligence Of the destruction at sea by fire OF the
steamphip Henry Chauncey, has been receives from
| Norfolk, Va, by MIR Isaac II. Walker the Vics
| President OF the sun Mutual Marine Insur-
| nee Company, OF this city. That gentleman
| has transmitted the letter to the HERALD
| for publication. It Ii somewhat strange
that news 80 important should come by mail IN I'd
vance Of the telegraph when at tie place FROM
which Mr.. Walkers correspondent writes there alys
men equally Jealous and capase az himself, whoss3i
duty 1t Is to inform themselves aiterward ths
general public on all occurrences when even Oi
much less importance than the ope now reported.
Below IS the letter. The HEeALD vouches for
nOthing contained In It, and publishes ~ only be.
cause or Mr.. Walkers evident belief the credibiy
NORFOLK Va, Angzlst 49, 1871.
Mn. J. II. WALKER Vice PresidcEs sun Mutual Ia
surance Company New York.
SIR hasten to inform YOU OF tho loss Of tho
Pacific mai steamer Henry Chnu1Cey- ThJ ship
Immediately headed for the land. Every effort
made to smother the flanes hut the FIRE continued
10 burn with fearful rapldy until the shy struck tn9
DeaCh the passengers ana crew NARROWLY escaping
with their lives.
The steamer Resoute has been despatched to sas
scene oil the disaster Very respectfully,
JAMES BROWN .Ageut
DESCRIPTION or the vESsEL-
The steamship Henry Chauucey was b,nie IN this b
city in 1864 for the Pacific Mai Steamship Company.
she was designed for aud has from her drst trip
been employed by them between the ports OF
Aspinwall ana this city. she was carefully con-
structed vessel Of 1855 tons burden. 32s feet In
length 43 feet IN depth and 2S feet in width Tho
material used In her was white oak. strapped with
iron and fastened with copper and irOn In August.
1868, her hull was sheathed IN metal. She had beam
engines, with cylinders and stroke piston. She was
Inspected In 1870. and then rated az AL N che
first class. This rating evidences her to have been
brIgantine as good leaves this barber. Captain
Gray, her COMMANDER, Is known as cool man In
any emergency, and IL Is probably to this quality
and the aid That 1t Is believed he eXacted from hts
crew that the passengers are indebted for their
lives If disaster has occurred. The
flames described to have Overmasered
the efforts to subdue them, and II could
only have been by the most indOmitabe perse-
verance and calm pluck in lighting against them
that it possible to bring vessel to where ,tx
dreadng passengers could escape from It,
THE PASSENGERS
The Chauncey left this port for Aspnwall on
Tuesday, the 18th inst. Her passengers are named
follOws:-
Mrs. Josephine Bond and infant Mr. UBrien Mrs.
Poor, ThOs. O'Brien, Henry Heydner John Lehman.
Mrs. Patterson and infant, Miss Patterson, Miss
Agnes Agnes u aonng' MIS- v Sara o. higore u
Weshaar, Mary Mitchell, Jay M. Page and wife. MRS.
Charles Reed, MISS A. }: Wnite, Mrs. Sconcld and
infant, Mrs. j. Sickle Mrs. Williams, mother and
two children: G. +. Thompson, q. w. Jones. Mrs.
lanes Lawrence and chllo; For Aspnwail-Mrs;
wife, b. Beverland and vile. John f. McCrea.
child and infant James Brooks, Miss RecucrO.
SANFORD, seven Sisters OF the Good shepherd, Chap
lam OF the Good Shepherd, Dr. l.. D. Kennedy }. j.
L. castle, Jonn Hickman j. Houston, Vile, three
children, infant and servant; II. Exter George Run
nell. F. p. d'Almeido, Dr. Henry Dickson, }. N.