Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-13
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
Especial Dispatches to the Gazette
HORRIBLE DISASTER.
Burning OF the Ship Don Juan al
Sea---Fiye Hundred Coolies Roast
ed Alive Under the I6etchcs-'-
Many DrOwned---Fifty Europeans
Missing-.-The Ship Set on Eife---
Particulars OF the Disaster.

ed Alive Under the IEetchcs---
Many DrOwned---Fifty Europeans
Missing---The Ship Set on EIre---
Particulars OF the Disaster.
San Francisco, CAL, June "Details OF
the total destruction by fire Of the Peruvian
ship Don Juan. ut sea have been received 1t
is supposcd that she was set Oh fire by Coolies
cntrapped on board at Macao, China The
crew abandoned the vessel leaving five hundred
and fifty Coolies fastened under the matches.
Five hundred were roasted alive and the others
escaped when the matches burned of. The YES
sci was American built and sold in San Fran
cisco where she Wis fitted ont Tor the Coolle
trade and returned several times for supplies.
A San Francisco special gives the following
particulars of the burning Of the ship Don
| Juan. The Don Juan loaded at Alacco on the
18th of May taking $50 Coolies on board for
Peru and on the 9th of May was burned to the
waters edge not more than fifty miles from
Hong Kong. The Coolies who have arrived
in Hong Kong all aver that their treatment was
humane and they had nothing to complain OF
either as to allowance Of food orvarcty guam
tity and the whole affair was accidental.
The other view that the vessel was set on fire
by designing men among the chinese is not i'm
possible.
One OF the men distinctly ayers that he heard
the explosion Of gunpoWdeI aft and also emols
a strong odor oft.
Others assert they did not hear any report
and that they were nearly ovcrpowered by sick
ness from the smell of the ships material burn
ing aft.
1t is to he regretted that the European who
had humanity to open the matches did not sue
coed in saving his own life. AS he was over
taken by the Coolies who made rush at the
boat waiting for him and general scramble &C.
CURED to get to it, the Europeans using arms
to prevent the Coolies from getting in it. In
this scramble several Chinese were drowned,
the boat, however, ultimately succeeded in get
ting clear Of the ship but had not gone far when
it upset within sight Of, but not within reach OF
the Coolies The Coolies seem to have had
little leisure TO look around when they OBJ
served the other three boats at distance.
During this time all the materials Of the ship
were rapidly burning and large number per
ishcd in the hold some Of whom no doubt were
pteous. Many however, jumped into the
bic death by fire
4 number remained on the deck and bow
spirit. and whilst in this position one Of the
masts rave way and the coolies at once made
such efforts as they could to reach it, Having
cot to it, they chung with desperation calling
~ loud rs they could to save their lives. They
had not been long in the water before 4 fishing
junk came up and they were taken off two OF
three at time.
The mast WAS held on the wreck by i
wire rigging or it would otherwise have driIted
away to Sca.
The coolies state that there were 10 less than
fifty Europeans On the vessel and 1t remains to
be seen what became Of them, some no doubt be-
ing lost in the boat that was swamped.
1t is reported that thirty of the crew have
arrived at Alacco and they are unanimous i'll
stating that lhe coolies mutinicd and set fire ia
the ship in the hope of forcing all forward
| and to take tho vessel 1t seems they thought
] dllcrWdlUS.