[p. 62] half of them may perish, the rest will continue while there is a chance of success.
The Boston Shipping List of September 20, 1862, has the following:
Ship Phantom of Boston, Sargent, fm. San Francisco (May 30) for Hong Kong was lost July 13, on Pilot reef, Pratas shoal. The third mate and three seamen have arrived at Hong Kong. A British gunboat had gone to rescue the remainder of the crew. The Phantom was a good 1 1/2 ship of 1174 tons, built at Medford in 1852, and was owned by D. G. and W. B. Bacon of this city. Further accounts state that the Phantom had $500,000 on board. Captain Sargent took the specie in his boat but had not been heard from at last advices.In the shipping news of November 22, 1862, is the following: ‘One of the boats containing the second mate and six men, part of the crew of the ship Phantom, before reported lost, was picked up by pirates about 30 miles S. of Swatow, and taken inland as captives. Some Hong Kong Chinese merchants, hearing of the capture, ransomed the men for $20 or $30. They were taken to Swatow and ar. at Hong Kong Aug. 27.’ Later accounts reduced the amount of specie carried by the Phantom considerably, according to the following account:— ‘Nov. 18, 1862. Ship Phantom lost on Pratas rocks, had about $6,000 in merchandise and $50,576 in treasure. Upon the cargo about $5,500 was insured in San Francisco and $46,000 in eastern and foreign offices.’ Her commander, Capt. Henry Jackson Sargent, Jr., belonged to the Gloucester family which has produced many eminent writers and artists. He was twenty-nine years of age at this time and soon after took command of the clipper barque Emily C. Starr at Nagasaki, with a cargo of lumber, and she was never heard from. In the marine news of that time is the following item: ‘2/7, 63, bark Emily C. Starr of Camden, N. J., Sargent, ’
