The Portland daily press., 1880-12-07

Loss OF the American Ship James Bailey.
Messrs.J. s. Winslow g. Co., of this city
have received letter from Capt. j. w. Mann
Of the ship james Bailey. already reported
lost, containing slip from Hong Kong pa
per giving the particulars of the disaster 1t
will be remembered that the James Bailey was
bound from Hong Kong for San Francisco,
leaving the former port on the 14th of October.
Soon after sailing she encountered typhoen
and after drifting at the mercy of wind and
waves for several days was thrown on the
beach Of Hainan Island. The account referred
to is as follows:
James Bailey, has kindly furnished us with the
following report of the loss of that vessel dur
ing severe gale on the N. E. coast of Hainan:
Left Hong Kong, in ballast, at 8 a. IN on the
14th October. the tug-boat taking the ship as
far as the Nine Pins; wind then N. N. e. and
blowing fine, fresh breeze. At D. m. the
barometer read 1884, wind from the n. E.
and fresheHing; fured top-gallant sails. s p.
m. the barometer showed $3.50, Leman Island
w. BY N. 20 miles and blowing hard, ship un-
der three lower topsails. AT 8p. ms, barome-
ter down to 2a.7O; fured lower fore and mizen-
topsails, Midnight. wind K. N. E., furled
main tnpsail. At 8 a. m. on the 18th, barom-
eter % 30. Noon. barometer ~ 10, wind blow
ing fur,ously from the east. Midnight. barom-
eter 28.5n, wind s. E., wore ship on the star
board tack. At 3 a. m. on 18th, sails blowing
to pieces from the yards, wind increasing TO
hurricane force. At 4 a. m, fore top-gallant
and main royal masls broke off, most Of the
braces carried away, and the yards swinging in
! all directions. At II q. m. three men were
washed overheard, one Of whom, Albert
Olsen, a native Of Sweden, was drowned, the
other two being most miracu .ously enabled to
regain the ship; from the state of the weather
and the high sea raging no efforts could have
been put forth to save the drowning man with
any hope of success, and he disappeared almost
instantaneouslv; at this time the main top-gal-
liant mast broke away. Noon, weather cleared
little. aud vessel apparently in ballast,
was seen in the distance nth nothing sfald
ing but her foremast. During the next "a
hours the wind traversed round the compass
no less than four times. p. m, 18th, main
stays and starboard swifters carried away, and
yards all adrift. Cut away the main mast,
while the mizzen went.by the board at the
same time. p. IN. ship struck ON what was
supposed to be Hainan Sands; let go both an
chOrs to keep ship from going over into deep
water, the wind sull blowing furiously. After
striking found 10 feet of water in the hold. 10
D. m wind moderated, and was-enabled to see
land about half cables length off. 2 a. M,
18th, landed crew. AT daylight returned
board for provisions and clothing. AT this
time the natives began to assemble on the
beach and commenced stealing whatever they
could lay their hands upon. At D. 10. they
had become SO numerous that the crew were
unable to offer any resistance, and they openly
boarded the wreck plundering and destroy ing
every thing on board. On the 18th found from
one Of the natives that the ship was on Hainan
Island nearly abreast of Taya Island, and tried
to induce him to show the way overland to
Hoihow, but without success. Next day sue
ceeded in procuring man from another dis
trict to act as guide, the other natives threat
ening him in the meanwhile, and some of
them even following SO far as five or six miles,
and at one time it seemed as if they we're about
to proceed to active violence No one was left
in charge of the wreck, as it was totally unsafe
to remain. Arrived in Hollow at 10 p. IN. on
the 21st. and received every kindness and at
tention from H. B. NJ. Acting Consul there,
MIR. j. Scott.
Captain Mann, with the second mate and
nine Of the crew, came on from that port by
the steamer Cassandra, Captain LANCER, and
arrived in Hong Kong yesterday; the remainder
of the men, with the chief officer, will take
passage in the Ping-on, Captain McCaslin,
which vessel may bc expected to arrive at this
port during the course of the day.