The following particulars of the destruction by fire of the French barque Cométe, bound from Singapore to Marseilles, have been kindly furnished us by Mr, William Summers, chief officer of the British barque Hismstone, from London, which arrived in. port on Saturday. The Comée was in the Banka Straits, nine Gays out from Singapore, when observed by the Blomstone. She (the Cométe) was sighted on Sunday, the 12th July, about 1 p.m., anchored about 4 miles to the southward of the Brd point, with sails hanging loose and a signal of distress flying. On anearer approach, the signal was seen to denote the vessel's being on fire. The Elsmstone was then steered towards her, and when about two miles distant, came to anchor, and lowered a boat, with a crew of five men, in charge of Mr. Summers, the chief officer, taking with them fire-engine and buckets. On getting on board the Coméle they found the fire was in the Inzarette and after-hold. All hands then set to work to endeavour to extinguish the flames; but as their concentrated efforts utterly failed to subdue them—the fire gaining on' them with great rapidity, the cable was slipped at 4 pin., and the ship was run aground and scuttled on the Sumatra side, At 6 p.m., part of the crew and their effects were on board the Emstone, one of the men being very badly burned. Efforts were then made to fet the boats out; ove of these. proved to be utterly useless, and sank alongside. On the return of the boat from the Elmstone, the remainder of the crew wore sent away, along with all their effects; the Captain, his officers, and Mr. Summers of the Elmstone only remaining by the burning ship. At pam, the heat and smoke became so intense that they were at last compelled to berake themselves to the remaining boat, anchoring a little to the windward of the humin; vessel. At 10.30, the Intter was a mass 0 flames from aft forward to the main-mast, and reaching up to the main-top. At m night, the fire raged fore and aft. At 2 a.m, on the 13th, the Captain, his officers, and the chief officer of the Zmséone got on board that vessel. On approaching the Elmstone, they were hailed by a French steamer (the Batavia and Singapore Mail). The steamer rounded to and sent sent a boat off to the Elmstone. The Captain of the French steamer offered to take the Cométe's crew and their effects on to Singapore, which they at once did AtT a.m., the Linstone got under weigh and proceeded on her voyage to Shanghai, leaving the Comet atill burning, with masts and spars all gone and the hull completely gutted. 'The fire was said to have originated by the third officer's having gone to thi raw off some brandy for th taking with him a lamp Aropped the brandy bottle, the' contents of which were spilt and ignited—he being the one who was s0 severely burnt, while ande vouring to put out the flames.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.