FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY ON THE DON JUAN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 31 July 1871, Page 3

FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY ON THE DON JUAN.

— — ' i^y- . ■ — The following are particulars of this tragedy, as compiled from fetatements made by the Chinese survivors, and reprinted from successive issues of the "China Mail": — " Startling intelligence was brought over this morning (May 8) from Macao by the steamer White Cloud, to the effect that a ship of the name of Don Juan, formerly the Dolores Ugarte, Captain Gamy, which a few days ago sailed from this harbor to Macao, where she was sold and her name changed, has been burnt on the high 6eas, together with a large number of coolies, en route as 'passengers' to Callao. Since the arrival of the White Cloud a fishing junk came into the harbor, bringing over here 50 of the 'passengers,' who bad been lescued by the master of the junk from the burning vessel. The junk master states that on the morning of Sunday last, about 1 or 2 o'clock, he saw a ship oq fire, and heard cries of ' Save life.' On going near to the direction of the cry, he saw a number of Chinamen clinging to a mast, crying for help. He took them on board, and they numbered 50 altogether. These men have been handed over to the captain superintendent of police, and are lodging in the gaol. They present the must abject appearance, some with their backs fearfully scalded, others with legs, arms, and budy severely burnt, and not a few of them with swollen eyes. Some of these men can hardly walk, and are suffering under agonising pain. A great number of them were entirely naked, while a few had tattered and hnlf-burnt rags on their persons. One or two of the seriously injured men arc not expected to live, but under the kind care of Mr Douglas, the gaol superintendent, it is to be hoped that they may recover. There are about 10 of them placed in the Gaol Hospital for treatment. The following is a version of the tragedy as given by the men themselves. They said they embarked on board the ship on the Usth April last, and sailed in her on the 4fch inst, for Callao. On the Oth hist (Saturday last), about midday, the ship was discovered to be on fire on deck. The Europeans were trying to put the fire out, but without success. All this time they were below the hold, with the hatches battened down. When the fire had gone too far, one of the Europeans wrenched off the lock which fastened down the hatches. They all made a rush to the hatch, for by this time the hold was filled with smoke, and a great many of the men were suffocated. When they came on deck, they saw the Europeans leaving in boats, one of which owing to the struggle the Europeans were making to get into it, was swamped, and all that were in it drowned. There were four boats in the vessel, but one of them was burnt before it was lowered ; the two others rowed away, but what had become of them these men cannot tell. Some of the foreigners that could not get into the boats jumped into the water, and were drowned. The person who broke open the hatches likewise jumped into the water and was drowned. He was almost the last European that left the ship. He shouted out to them to flee for their lives. By the time the passengers were let out and came on deck, the mainmast of the ship had been partially burnt, and the passengers cut it off and threw it into the water. A great many jumped into the water to catch hold of it as the only means of deliverance. Some of them failed to get at it, and were drowned. Those who were able to do so, clung to it, and witnessed the ship burnt to the water's edge. They kept shouting for help, and a fishing junk was attracted to the scene. The ship was burning from midday on Saturday until 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, when they were rescued. At that time the fire had reached the copper sheathing on the hull close to the water. They could not tell how the fire originated, but it was certain it did not begin in the hold where they were. A young lad, about 17, said he was one of the 12 told off to act as cooks, who were all privileged to be on deck. He was in the kitchen at the time the fire occurred, and therefore could not say how it originated. He believed it to have occurred through some Europeans playing with their firearms. He heard them fire many shots, and shortly after, the alarm of fire was raised. It was fully one hour after the alarm that the hatch was opened to tho passengers. But at this time the sails and everything on deck had been burnt. The vessel had on board more than 650 coolies, and he could not tell how many Europeans were on board. He was sure of the number of coolies, as he had, along with the 11 others, to prepare their meals. One of the men who was in the hold gave the locality of the fire as the captain's cabin, which was in the stern, and was close to the hold where they were. The fire spread with wonderful rapidity, and soon filled the hold with smoke, which suffocated a great many and prevented their escape. It is said, from Macao, that not only the captain but the crew adhere to the

statement previously made regarding the sad f::'r' of the Don Juan and her living fVci'j'ir Tlie sailors in .Macao number So. but wli ether that was or was not the number who signed the ship's articles we arc not at present in a position to say. They, however, are said, on their side, to be unanimous as to the facts mentioned below ; and the case would appear to resolve itself into an arraying of the statement of the rescued coolies against the statement of the crew. About 9 a.m. on Saturday — so runs the seamen's story — the Chinese mutinied, revolted, showed signs of taking possessisn. They tore up their berths and the woodwork about their bunks, and using the planks as a battering-ram, they broke down the bulkhead and got into the lazarette, which was direct aft. This was when about 100 miles from land, steering east. Having got through the bulkhead and into the lazarette, the coolies piled up the lumber thus torn up aud set fire to the ship by its means. When those on deck saw what the lf passengers"_had done, a hose was got down into the hoid ; but the coolies deliberately threw it overboard through one of the sidelights. The fire was apparently lighted aft, with the purpose of forcing all those living overhead to go forward and thus simplify the capture of the vessel. It is even said that, on being asked through the grating what they wanted, the coolies declared their intention of taking the ship. However improbable this may appear, it is alleged that the coolies openly stated their purpose. Jt is presumed that they expected the fire would be easily extinguished, and that they never anticipated the horrible death in store for them. Nothing further of a definite nature has been learnt regarding the reported chopping up of the man formerly credited with having taken down the hose in order to extinguish the fire. That one, if not more, of the crew, was lost appears to be not unlikely, as the last man who prized open the hatch was said to have been drowned when the last boat was swamped. The battening down of the hatch is again declared to be a fact, and do mention whatever is made (so far as we have heard) of any attempt having been made to save any of the "passengers." Things becoming desperate, the crew took to their boats, and soon fell in with fishing junks, into which they are said to have transhipped themselves and found their way to Macao. AVbether the boats were or were not too far away to be of any service to the coolie victims is not stated. In connection also with this dreadful affair, we may state that, according to advices from Macao, the Governor there bos ordered a total suspension of the coolie trade as carried on at that port. It is said nc less than 2000 coolies are at present quartered in the barracoons, and that the Governor has authoritatively forbidden that any shall be taken away or any placed into these coolie houses for the present. This amounts only to a suspension of the traffic, and any subsequent action, it is presumed, will depend on further investigation. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. The " New York Herald" says it is supposed that the ship was set on fire by coolies entrapped on board at Macao, China. The crew abandoned the vessel, leaving 550 coolies fastened under the hatches. Five hundred coolies were roasted alive. The others escaped when the hatches burned off. The vessel was American built, aud was sold in San Francisco to the Compania Maritimade Peru, rechristened the Dolores Ugarte. She was fitted out here for the coolie trade, and returned here Several times for supplies while engaged in that traffic.