A SPECIMEN LINER. [From the Polynesian, July 10.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 755, 27 October 1852, Page 4

A SPECIMEN LINER. [From the Polynesian, July 10.]

The New Grenadian bark Sarmiento arrivedf at this port on the 3rd instant, short of provisions and water, having left Panama ioi San Francisco on the 22nd of March last, with about 240 souls on board. We see in the JEcho, published at Panama in March, the Sarmiento advertised for San Francisco, and represented as an " A No. 1 coppered and copper- fastened barque of 800 ions, having great height between decks, as well as great beam, causing her to be very roomy ; besides being one of the fastest ships that ever left, Panama." Whereas, she is a very old American vvhaler'of less than 350 tons, and, we are told by one of the passengers, a most miserable old tub for sailing. It is not strange, therefore, that with over 200 passengers on hoard, a most distressing voyage bas been experienced, &nd that suffering and death have resulted from such overcrowding. The ship finally left Taboga on the 27th-of March. Five days after leaving Taboga it was found that the supply of water was short, and on the 30th all bands, together with the passengers, were put upon an allowance of 3 pints per day. On the 6th of May, the weather being warm,' the crew demanded more water, and refused duty. Oa the 19th of May, the allowance of water was reduced to 2 pints a day, and much suffering was experienced, especially by those who were sick with fev°r. Previous to this point, tl)e ship put back for San Bias, which, after fourteen days, she reached, and remained three days. On the 21st of May, a most fearful tragedy was enacted on board, which made an impression never to be effaced from the minds of those who witnessed it. A young man aged about 19 years, by the name of Woolfork, from Kentucky, shot a German named Johnson through the heart. The origin of this bloody business was a dispute about a paltry tin cup, of which Woolfork had two, and the German none. In the hasty altercation, the handle was wrenched off, when Woolfork drew his revolver and shot Johnson dead. A scene of the greatest excitement ensued ; the murderer was seized, 114 voted that he should be bung, 32 against it, and the balance were neutral. A judge was appointed ; a jury of 12 empannelled ; the prisoner found guilty of murder, and received his sentence to be hung man hour. During the interval between the sentence and execution, the dead body was brought on deck, exhibiting its ghastly wounds, the preparations made, aud after allowing the condemned man a quarter of an hour over his time, he was run up to the yard arm, where life soon became extinct. He was then cut adrift, fell upon his face into (he sea, and continued floating, till left out of sight by the ship. On the 25th of May water was sold for one dollar per bottle, by those of the passengers who required less than their fellows. On r ach ng San Bias, but little was procured except water. A few days' allowance of bread was all, and but little alleviation was experienced from the supply of provisions. The perk was good, but not in, any thing like sufficient quantity tor such a company. From the beginning of the voyage the beef was so offensive as to be absolutely uneatable except by starving wretches. From San Bias the vessel again sailed for San Francisco : but instead of beiug an " A No. 1 ship of 800 tons, and one of the fastest ships that ever left Panama,"she was so slow, and the stofk of water and provisions so miserable, that after beating about from the Ist to the 20th of June, she put away for these Islands, where she arrived on the -3rd instant, as stated above. Since the 19th of June, they have had no bread, and the last they had was more like sand than bread, and filthy in the extreme. Among the passengers that embarked there were two children and eleven women, one of each of whom died before reaching San Bias. Six others died on board, besides the murderer and the murdered wan. While reviewing the circumstances attending this unfortunate voyage, one's blood tingles at the atrocious conduct of those, who, for gain, could have deceived emigrants bound to California as those by the Sarmiento were deceived. A miserable old whaler of about 332 tons, built in 1823, represented as an " A No. 1 ship of 800tons," and putrid beef that could not be eaten, or endured below decks, represented as " the best Fulton market beef brought across the Isthmus "at a considerable expense for the purpose." Life, health, and everything else exposed, for the almighty dollar, and the ship lying so far off, that she could not be visited before going on board to sail ! The fact' that suffering and death have resulted is not the mystery on this occasion, but that results still more disastrous have not followed such a disregard of the ordinary precautions necessary to secure the comfort of passengers upon a voyage proverbial for its exposure to delay from calms and adverse winds. We hope these passengers-will find the passage hence more agreeable and prosperous, than their voyage has hitherto been, and such is likely to be the case. The ship is recruiting here, and can have no possible excuse for leaving this port without an abundant supply of -provisions jand water. We will only add that Mr, Eugene Fery was the agent at Panama whose name appears to the advertisement giving the false statements above quoted, in regard to the ship, &c.