The Japan Mail continues its narrative of the circumstances attending the loss of the America. Writing on the 27th ult. it says:—Since our first report was written, but few facts the loss of the origin of the fire, doubt still reigns, though America have come to hand. As tothe it fa not.tmprubable thet it Wee' onussed by a coolie or some native smoking, and accidentally emptying the ashes of his pipe within reach of some inflammable freight. The cargo or fire shouldered till the smell of smoke induced a search, when a draught was at once created and the flame burat out and spread. We would say, however, this is only a supposition:
With respect to the loas of life, we regret to find that three Europeans are missing. Stevens has turned up, but Barker, the second cook, and the steerage watchman, are missing, and we fear drowned or burnt. Tt is known that about fifty Chinamen were lost; but as all were scattered after the fire, no opportunity has as yet been afforded for the number of the missing to De-ascertained. The officers and crew hat now all. been quartered -in. the various hotels, and the Chinese passengers have also been afforded excellent accommodation. the effect that most of the oflcers were During yesterday a report was spread to
shore; that a gross want of discipline was evinced on the outbreak of the fire, and that great carelessness was shown in not towing the ship away when she caught fire. These reports are as false in suggestion as in fact. All the officers but the doctor were on board, and within s few seconds of the alarm being given all were at their respective stations. It was impossible to approach the ship within a very few minutes after the outbreak of the fire, and no effort to tow her off would have been successful, and even if so it would have been dangerous in the extreme to tow a burning ship in a crowded harbour. When it was found that the ship must be lost the first thought was to avoid any damage to other vessels, and the wisest course was undoubtedly adopted. When the ship was at last towed over to Kauaio one, even then, could board her, and the anchor which fell overboard during the fire dragged on the ground, thus rendering her unmanageable, and despite the greatest care being exercised the collisions which took place were inevitable. We may ign' thut the actual amount of the. treasure on board was a little over $375,000. 'This will be saved, ax the treasure chest' easily attainable. With the ship nothing will be done till advices are received from New York. has now unhappily become evident that the five deaths we chronicled on Monday do not nearly cover the total mortality consequent upon the loss of the America, for during the whole of yesterday numbers of dead bodies were found floating about the bay. It appears that out of 360 persons 204 have been actually accounted for, while some others are known to have been saved and to be living with their friends, On Tuesday morning the P, M. 8. 8, tug was employed in searching the bay for dead bodies, and by noon about sixteen had been brought ashore, only one woman being among the number, the body of Barker being also discovered. From wu inspection of them it appeared that nearly were heavily weighted with Hem to suk whea they fall overtontd, 1d $20 pieces. This doubtless cairsed
their bodies not rising until filled with gas' A gun was taken on board the tig to fire, it being a well-known fact that a body, when slightly decomposed, will rise to the surface if a gun be fired over the spot where rests, In this way seventeen bodies in all were discovered and brought ashore near the P. M. 8.8, wharf, and arrangements were at once made for their. burial, coffins being constructed for the Chinamen at the expense—when required—of the P.M.S.S. Company. 'These, with the five before found, make a total of 22, The appearance of the bodies as they lay on the h we prefer to allow our vaffice it that all were burnt and scorched, but apparently all died from drowsing. Nearly' all had money in their clothes, and there seemed to be a general desire on the part of the evidently' heavily weighted with dollars, Chinese passengers to claim those bodies
Great care, however, was exercised by Mr. Brown, of the P. M. Company, to prevent any stealing, and two men who had taken $400 away from two bodies, which they asserted were those of their relations, were compelled to place it in Mr. Brown's hands pending investigation. At 4 p.m., the body of Barker was interred, and the burial of the Chinese will take place as soon as possible. The woman who. died was, when we last saw her, decked out for binal, while her relations performed the customary religions ceremonies. "This was the only instance in which we saw anything like a natural feeling displayed; one man, indeed, was remarkably anxious to get his "cousin's" money and a handsome ring which he- wore, intimating, moreover, that lo ited without permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.