BURNING OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HORNET.

Southland Times, Issue 590, 12 November 1866, Page 3

BURNING OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HORNET.

It has seldom been our lot to chronicle a more unfortunate disaster than the burning of the Hornet, one of the finest of the "Californian fleet of clippers, or an escape more providental th;::i that of a portion of the ship's company. The following account has been gathered from the lips of Mr Thomas, the third officer of the ship, and Mr Clough, a seaman, both of whom have relatives residing in San Francisco, who will welcome them as from the grave. The American ship Hornet, of 142S tons burthen, Captain Josiah A. Mitchell, left New York on the 15th January, bound to San Francisco, with a general cargo, consisting of coals, iron, 6200 boxes candles, 2400 cases kerosene oil, and the usual assortment of miscellaneous merchandise. Beyond speaking one or two vessels, nothing occurred on the passage ont worthy of note, till seven o'clock on the morning of the 3rd May, at which hour the mate went below with one of the hands to draw varnish, taking a lantern. "While so engaged, an explosion suddenly took place, which set fire to the sails in the sail-locker, between decks. The seaman rushed on deck, shouting " Fire," while the mate remained below trying to put out the fire with blankets, which he took from three sick men. The ship was at this time scudding along beautifully under a sixknot south-east trade wind. She had just crossed the Equator the evening previous, in the usual track of vessels bound to California in longitude 112deg. Bmin. The hatches at the time were off for ventilating the ship, as is customary. Hardly had the alarm been given, before fire and dense smoke came out of the after hatch, communicating almost instantaneously to the " cross-jack-sail," which was hanging clewed up. In a very few minutes, the flames burst through the main hatch, and set fire to the main-sails. With the first alarm Capt. Mitchell was promptly on deck, and set one watch to work endeavoring to control the fire, while the other watch was ordered to lower the boats and get them ready. The quarter boats were safely lowered without trouble, but in launching the long-boat her botton was stove in by an eyebolt, making a hole in the bottom about a foot square, which was stopped up with blankets and shirts, during the entire cruise. The boats were provided with sails, but these being in the saillockers, it was impossible to get at them. A studding sail, a main royal, and some pieces of canvas lying handy on the deck were thrown into the boats, with what provisions were accessible, consisting of four hams, twelve tins of assorted meats, a box of raisins seven pieces of pork, one hundred pounds of bread, and four buckets of raw potatoes. Four demijohns and a barrel, containing in all but twelve gallons of water, were also passed into the boats. The ship's chronometers, epitome, compasses, quadrants, and a few blankets, were also saved, but no clothing, except what the men stood in. At this time the whole ship was in flames overhead, the fire creeping and leaping from spar to spar, and enveloping the rigging, sails, and masts in one vast sheet of flame. It waa impossible to remain on board any longer ; and at a quarter before eight o'clock, or three quarters of an hour after the first alarm, the order was given to leave the ship, and all hands took to the boats, and pushed off from the vessel. Here was one of those grand sights, often described but seldom witnessed — a noble ship, which an hour before waß gliding cheerily along her course, now all wrapped in flames from the deck to the trucks — a grand and costly pyrotechnic display, in which the masts, spars and rigging formed the b©ld outlines. The scene

was enough to strike terror into the bravest heart, when he remembered that it was over a thousand miles to the nearest land, and the chances of reaching land next to none. At eight o'clock the masts of the noble ship went over her side, but the burning hull, like a huge lamp, fed by 20,000 gallons of kerosene and 6,000 boxes of candleß, made an awful conflagration, lighting the horizon for a hundred miles round, while the flames and smoke rolled up in black masses, reaching to the very clouds. The The boats remained by the ship during the day and night while she was burning. As the cargo gradually consumed, the ship lightened, just as she would alongside the dock when discharging cargo. There were no explosions during the burning. At five o'clock on the morning of the 4fch, the fire having burnt through the hull to the water, the noble clipper made a plunge forward and went down bow first, leaving no trace of her but a few charred spars and pieces of wood floating about. This wa3 in N. latitude 2deg. 20min,, W. longitude 112deg. Bmin., about 1000 miles due south from Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 2500 miles east of Hawaii. During the first night Captain Mitchell, who had, throughout the disaster, shown a coolness and bravery equal to the occasion, distributed the men into the three boats, according to their capacity. In the long boat with him, were the two passengers, the third mate, and eleven seamen. The second boat was placed in charge of the first officer, Samuel Hardy, of Chatham, Mass. Besides him, there were William Lang, of New York (whose father is a stockbroker in that city), Greor&e Winthrop, of 1 London, England, G-eorge Washington (colored cook), the steward, and four others, whose names we have not yet learned. The third boat was in charge of the second officer, Mr Parr, of North Shields, England. With him were the carpenter and six seamen, whose names we have not been able to obtain. The provisions and water were all equally distributed among the three boats during the first night, masts fitted, and sails cut for them, as well as circumstances and materials would permit. Being in the track of California-bound vessels, Captain Mitchell concluded it best to head northwest, in the same course, hoping to sight some passing ship. The two quarter boats were taken in tow by the longboat, and thus they stai'ted off in search of some mode of deliverance. The second day frequent light showers occurred, and some four gallons of water were obtained, to add to their small stock of water. The winds were light and baffling, and the sun fell with scorching rays on their unprotected heads. The fourth day the course was changed for Clarion Island, located 'in longitude 114 deg. W., latitude 13deg. 30min., but owing to strong winds and heavy sea, the boats were unable to fetch up to it. On the fifth, sixth, and seventh days, six dolphins, a bonita, and turtle were caught and divided among the three boats, giving the crews plenty of raw meat, but as they had no salt, they were unable to keep it. All the boat's crews were now put on an allowance of a gill of water, half a biscuit, and half a raw potato, twice a day. But when it rained all hands were privileged to drink all the water they could catch. For the next thirteen days, the winds continued light and baffling, the long boat towing the other two all the while. On the 17th day out, two " boobies " were caught, which were divided among the beats' crews. When eight days out, under a strong trade wind, it was found impossible for the long-boat to continue towing the others, as the strain and jerking were so severe as to endanger her, and Captain Mitchell decided to cast off the mate's boat, which was done in long 114deg W., lat. 13 deg. N. Three days after it was decided, for the same reason, to cast off the second mate's boat, and after coming alongside, dividing the beggarly remnant of stores, and bidding each other adieu, they cast off, all being in good spirits. Up to this time, the three boats were still in sight of each other, each having a navigator in charge, and heading on the same course. That night they parted company, and the two mates' boats have not since been heard from. After reaching longitude Il7deg. W., and latitude I7deg. N., Captain Mitchell decided to head for " American group " located, according to Bowditch, in latitude 17deg. N., longitude 133deg. 30 mm. W. The boat spent several days cruising over the position, but found no signs of land. Thus far they had endeavored to keep in the usual track of Californian-bound clippers, in hope of meeting a passing sail. But failing to find land here, they headed for Hawaii, distant 1,200 miles. At this time they had no meat, and nothing to eat but the bare bones of the ham, and the canvas it was rolled in, with their regular two gills of water. Pieces of this canvas and the staves of a butter keg which had a saline relish to them, served as the main stand-by, while the leather of their boots were scraped off, soaked in water so as to make the leather soft. This served as their soup. For dessert, they ate pieces of cotton shirts and handkerchiers. By some accident there was a supply of tobacco in the boat, which served to allay their thirst, and may have been a principal means of preserving their lives. During the entire passage the utmost

discipline prevailed, with watches off and on, as regularly as on the ship. The boat leaked badly, and all hands took turns bailing, to keep her afloat. With the strong trade winds, heavy sea, and squalls, blowing at times almost a gale, this was no light work. On the thirty-eight day, four flyingfish kindly flew into the boat. These were seized, and divided into fifteen equal parts, and each ate his share -raw. The next day another flying-fish came aboard, which was also divided into fifteen pieces and served around. On 1 the fortieth day, a very small fish flew aboard, which was given to the captain, as he was suffering most from want of nourishment. On the forty-first day, Neal Turner, an invalid seaman, who had a severe abscess in the hip, gave up discouraged and lay down on the bottom of the boat. The rest of the party were in good spirits, but weak, expecting to see land in four or five days. There was no grumbling nor dissention. On the forty-third day, about 11 a.m., the cry of " Land ho !" was given, and the lofty summit of Mauna Loa cheered the • famished voyagers. The land was sighted a day or two sooner than they expected. On nearing it, a flag was waved on a pole which was seen by those on shore, but at first it was supposed, to be a fishing party. When approaching near the breakers, off Laupahoehoe, two natives swam off to the boat, and on finding the destitute condition of the crew climbed into it, shook hands with every one, saying " How do you do ?" took the oars, and brought the boat safely to the beach. JN T one of the party were able to stand up, and on trying to do so, fell over helpless, and unable as infants to walk alone. The natives crowded around, women vying with the men, took them up in their arms, and carried them all ashorte, to the house of Mr Jones Pulu, agent of J. C King and Co., who received them with the greatest kindness. The natives brought all kinds of fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, bananas, cocoanuts, &c, for the starving men, but Mr J., deeming it not prudent for them to eat these, made some tea and broth, and nursed them with the zeal of a Florence Nightingale. Next morning they were allowed to eat a little more freely, but still with great caution, their host providing them more at each subsequent meal. Word having been despatched to Hilo, the American Consul there, Captain J. Worth sent three boats and brought the sailors to that port, Captain Mitchell and Messrs Ferguson preferring to remain at Laupahoehoe till they gained more strength. At Hilo, the Consul provided for all their necessities and bestowed much care on them. The whole party in the long-boat thus reached land safely, after having been forty-three days at sea, on short allowance part of the time, and less allowance most of the voyage. What is more remarkable, there was no sickness, nor any of that dizziness which is so often the accompaniment of persons kept in a starving condition for so long a time. To Captain Mitchell's fitness for his command, is due in no small degree the success of bringing this open boat 2500 miles safely to land' He had a compass, but no chart, and steered as with superhuman skill, or, more correctly speaking, an overrulling Providence steered them in safety to the land. The seamen express the most unbounded confidence in him, and felt, like soldiers with their General, that so long &h he led them they were safe, and should reach the land. The other boatB — unles picked up by some stray vessel — have probably been lost. Though each provided with a navigator, it was not till after they parted company that the long-boat decided to put off for those islands. The others may have done co or not, but in either case could hardly survive the squalls and heavy seas encountered by the one which has arrived. The captain and sailoas will leave for San Francisco by an early vessel. During their Btay at Hilo, they were generously supplied with all that human kindness can provide, and probably they will meet the same treatment here. — Vaeific Commercial Adveitiser.