The Ship Philadelphia
Alta California, June 28, 1849
San Francisco, California, USA
BURNING OF THE SHIP PHILADELPHIA IN
THE HARBOR OF SAN FRANCISCO
The extraordinary spectacle of a burning vessel was witnessed in our harbor on Sunday morning last, and a fine large ship entirely consumed by fire. Particulars of this disastrous event have been furnished us by Captain Samuel Weare, owner and master of the unfortunate Philadelphia. He states that about 6 a.m., the alarm of fire was given by the crew on board, and very soon the entire forward part of the ship was wrapped in flames. The joint efforts of the crews of several vessels in the harbo, who were promptly on the spot to render assistance, proved of no avail, the fire communicating aft, and spreading with such great rapidity as but bare to give time to rescue the personal effects of Captain W. and lady, which, with the ship's boats were all that was saved from the devestating element. The fire originated in the forecastle, a crew of ten men having been employed in getting the ship ready for sea. Burning to the water's edge, her cables were ordered to be cut and the wreck drifted off with the tide.
For the active and praiseworthy exertions made to extinguish the fire by the officers and crews of U.S. vessels in port, and assistance rendered by Captain Pearson and crew of the steamer Oregon, together with those of several merchant ships, Capt. Weare expresses a grateful feeling. The Philadelphia was 543 tons register, hailed from New York, and was under charter by Messrs Howland & Aspinwall of that city. She was insured for $15,000 and was to have salied on the 1st July for Manila via the Sandwich Islands.
