, 1872-10-14

way; and those who Mt the time we're upon it
numbering about Blxty-wera all headlonS hurl-
ed into the sea: their cries being such that
will be long remembered by those who heard
thena: No me means 7. g Ct escape being practicable,
the remainder Of tie passengers and officers Of
u ship jumped into the sea, from which they
we're rescued BY the ships boats, q number Of
which by this time had come close to the wreck.
The steamer at this moment Was one burning
mass from stem to stern. brilliantly illuminating
the sky. Efforts were now made to sink her.
The barge OF the Vettor Pisnni came up, and,
loading her howitze1s, fred into the ships hull
without the least rseful elect. Nothing now
remained but to let the fire take its course.
Throughout the night the ship =, burned With It
hames little abated.
INVESTIGATION N THE CONSULAR COURT.
On the 21st Of August d Court OF Inquiry con-
cerning the destruction Of the ste: :uer was held
at the Office Of tho United States Consulate.
The Court was presided over by c. 0. Sheppard,
United States Consul, Captain Paul Shirley,
senior United States Naval Officer, and Captain
Percy. acting as :: Assessors" Mr.. Do Long,
United States Minister, occupied seat On the
bench.
The Court, in its decision, goes over ell the
grounds on which the opinion Of tie Court is
based. We hare space only to say that the con-
clueion was that the steam was too low to work
saved had there been sufficient fro under the
boiler to generate steam. The great loss Of life
is mainly attributed to the desire of the Chinese
to save their property. Many Of them were
weighed down with money. The Court is also
convinced that the fire YVES the result Of inten-
ton. some wretch mny have fred tile ship
for the opportunity to rob the Chinese paSsen-
gers.
AN AMERICAN CONSUL IN BAD LUCE.
Mr.. Sheppard, American Consul at Tien-Tsin,
China, who was on bis way to take charge Of his
Consulate, lost everything he had, including his
the hia
and all lis private papers. This same gentle
man and his wife lost everything they had on
their trip to China three years ago by Q railrond
disaster on the Union Pacific Road, at Bryen's
station, near Green River. He advises his
friends hereafter to take passage on the train
or ship preceding his.
LOSS OF LIFE.
There we're 175 passengers on board of the
ship, Of whom sixty are missing. Three of the
crew lost their lives. John H. Barber. native
Lymart, a German, employed as eteerage
watchman and Thomas Bryant, co1ored, en-
ployed rs cook, al Of whom pe2ished III the
ha.nes.
NARROW ESCAPE.
Either from the effects Of the high leap or
the inhaling Of the smoke, Captain Doane, as he
struck the water, found his legs paralyzed and
himself unable to swim. Twice he sank and
none we're near to help him, but on rising for
the last time, the friendly hand Of Captain Will
IAuQ8 u Lu6 Cu5IL lllct H1d6pEu ull1 UY Ills
collar, and be wEs saved. He was at once taken
on board the Costa Rica md restoratiyes ap-
piled, By the aid of which he gradually revived.
The personal adrentures Of those who es-
capped would make q volume Of thrilling in
terest. One OF the cabin boys had So 900 in
silver. which he Of course tried to save. It is
needless to say what became Of him. Another
Chinaman actually jumped overheard with his
box Of clothes, and clung to it until picked up.
An European gentleman told me that, upon
some one'a congratulating this man, he coolly
remarked lie was 'eorry he was not able to cave
his wife, too" It is q most remarkable charac-
teristic Of this mysterious people--the Chinese
that, in the presence Of danger, they never so
far loose their presence Of mind as to forget
their bundle Of rags. The humanity which
Christianized people show, or ought to
show, in rescning women and children
and infrm persons in time Of peril, never trou-
bles Chinaman. Their actions under circum-
stances Of this character are as mysterious as
the Sphyn1 itself. Out of the thirty Chinese
women and children aboard-the most Of whom
had husbands and fathers with theu-not fya
are saved And as for the poor children, am
credibly Informed that at least q part of them
persisted in the flames. OF the lit Chinese pas
songers, fully one-third Of their number were
lost.
The loss, directly and indirectly, to the Pacific
Mail Company will not fall short Of 52,000,000