BURNING OF THE MONTMORENCY.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1376, 5 April 1867, Page 2

BURNING OF THE MONTMORENCY.

The " Hawkes Bay Herald," of March 30, gives the following account of tho destruction of the ship Montmorencyy : — The morning of Thursday last brought to many —indeed to nearly every One — the astonishing and almost incredible news that the fine ship Montmorency, which arrived on the afternoon of Sunday last, with immigrants, had been totally destroyed by fire during tho night while lying in the anchorage. The ' news_.pr.OYed to bo too true, there being, at daylight, but little remaining of what, but a v few days before, bad " walked tbe waters like a thing of life." Tho fire was discovered about a quarter to twelve on Wednesday night —the man on watcli having detected smoke issuing out of the fore hatchway. He immediately raised the alarm, and officers and f crew were instantly on deck. Captain McKenzie was on shore—the first time he had left the ship since her arrival —and the command was taken by the chief officer, who, upon going forward, found a dense smoko issuing from tbe hatchway. He ordered both , engines to be rigged and tbe hose passed down tbe hatchway. The batch of the lower hold was taken off, when tbe flames were seen, apparently on the port side. The chief officer, boatswain and sailmaker, went down between decks and pointed tho hose into the hold, but they were very soon obliged to give up the . attempt, owing to the density of the smoke and spread of the flames—the deck being quite hot under their feet. The next step was *-to close the hatches, so as to stifle the fire for the time being, and to employ part of the crew in clearing away tho boats, to ensure safety .of life. The chief officer then went nfr, fired several rockets and burnt blue lights, bo fis attract attention from shore. I»v r this time, so ripidly did the flumes gather strength, fire .vas issni.-g through tiio i\>rc hatch to tho upper deck. Another, attempt was made to keep it under by working the engines and directing both hose through the main hatch, but it was found impossible to continue doing so on account of tho heat and smoke. No great time had elapsed from the time tho alarm was given, yet the fire h id already caught, the spare spars on the upper deck, and was proceeding through the h iteh'way in tho forecastle. It was evidei.t, indeed, that the flames were irresistible, end again a number of rockets wero sent op, that assistance might be obtained from phorc. Soon after, a part of the crew were ordered to take to the boats, and to secure if possible their personal etfvcts, but very f-v of them succeeded in saving anything. The carpenter was also ordered 10 scuttle the s 1 ip, but lie found it impossible to do so on account of the swell. By half-past twelve the flames bad reached right aft to the poop. More rockets •were fired, and thero being no appearance of boats from the shore, and tho state of things becoming hopeless, the remaining portion of tho cww were ordered into the boats, and to lay on their oars clear of the ship. This, as near as can be estimated, was a-quarfer to one a.m. The chief officer, tho eecond officer, and Mr . Fordham, the Custom-house officer, remained "* on board a little longer. The flames by this time were coming out of the hatch on the poop, and the ligging was all on fire—presenting a magnificent yet mournful spectacle from the shore. The fact of the eliip being

on fire was seen from tbe barrack hill by Lieutenant Britten, of the 12rh Regiment, who rode down to the Spit mid gave tho alarm. This was not, however, before the flame* hud gained complete ascendancy, and the loss of ship and cargo was inevitable. From the first, indeed, this was tbe case, and the want of prompt assistance made no difference what ever. The cargo included over 100 casks of spirits, and a quantity of other goods of an inflammable character, and the volume of fire which shot up to heaven was immense, as well as singular iv appearance. The eight is described as grand in the extreme, although of course such as to create feelings of deep sorrow for such a calamity. After the firereached the deck, the fore-rigging was the first to be ignited ; then the main yard, causing the main top sail to drop down on the poop. Soon after, the chief officer and the two others who remained on board were forced to drop over tbe stern into the boats.

After leaving, the boat wa3 pulled to the bow, and another but ineffectual effort made to scuttle the ship. About a-quarter to one the pilot boat, in charge of Capt. Gellem, came off; and, ten minutes latter, Capt. McKenzie arrived in the boat belonging to the Star of the South. Nothing, however, could be done. An attempt was made to unshackle the chain, so as to let the ship go clear of her moorings, which proved fruitless ; about an hour after, however, it was unshackled from the mooring buoy, but the ship still held on by her anchor and by tbe chain which bad been detached from the buoy. The boats lay off the ship till about half-past four a.m. The masts by that time had fallen. Tho foremast went a little after four, falling over the starboard bow ; then the main top-mast and upper yar' l - . th'":; i■* """un mast, which fell aft and brought tin- nvzzcii mast down with it. When the boats left, the fire was working out of the sides and bows, and had got. hold of the bowsprit. The wreck, after the virulence of the fire had subsided, continued to smoulder throughout the day. In course of the forenoon, the Star of the South, s.s., went out to the scene of disaster with the view of unshackling the chain, if possible, and towing the hull away from the government moorings, having been instructed to that effect by the Deputy Superintendent. The attempt, however, was not successful, and the steamer, sustained some injury through coining in contact with the burning ship. Yesterday, another attempt was made by Mr Warnes and Captain liandall, which proved successful, and what remains of the once noble ship is now stranded on the beach between the Spit and tbe Bluff. It is understood that the salvors' claim half of what they have recovered, the ship being assumed to have been abandoned. It will be seen, however, that the wreck is advertised to be sold this day, for the benefit of whom it may concern.

Of the cause of this lamentable occurrence nothing is kuown, and conjecture is at fault. Some suppose that the fire had been smouldering in the hold for some time, and in this view of the case it is providential that it did not break out at sea, when many lives must inevitably have been sacrificed. But the chief and second officers were both down the forehold on the forenoon of Wednesday, and they saw or smelt nothing to excite their suspicions. The. mystery attending the catastrophe is only equalled by its appalling suddenness, and the rapidity with which it spread.

The Montmorency had on board nearly 400 tons cargo, consigned to Messrs. Sluart and Co , Ivlessrs. Watt Brothers, Messrs. Newton, Irvine and Co, and others. The principal shipments aro covered by insurances, but the loss of winter drapery goods will be a source of great inconvenience to the last-named firir. A great many cases of individual loss have however, occurred. Although the chrono- j metors and part of tho captain's effects were I saved, they are so much damaged as to be worthless, and his loss is probably equal to £200. The chief officer saved part of his clothes, but lost the remainder and a sum of money. Mr Orr, a passenger, is a very serious loser. He had on board as cargo a lar«e quantity of agricultural implements, seed, &c, uninsured ; as well as his personal effects, which included plate, and some family pictures which cannot be replaced. His loss is probably not much underjßLOOO. o " tt -, nately airtbe emigrautß* luggnge was landed with the ex<v»ptio« of one or two packages and such of it as came under the designation of freight; but the cargo was just as it had been shipped—bulk not having been broken, nor, indeed, the ship entered tit tbe Customs.

The Montmorency is a well-known ship in the Australian trade. She was built at Quebec in 1855 as a Black Ball liner, and, being remarkably roomy between decks, was a favorite vessel for the conveyance of immigrants. Indeed, she is said to have carried more immigrants in her day than any other British ship. Much sympathy is felt for Capt. McKenzie —who seems to have won golden opinions from the passengers and immigrants, as well as from the officers and seamen, most of whom have lost everything, and have to begin the world anew.

An inquiry into the cause of the fire will, we believe, take place on Monday next at eleven a.m., in the Council chamber. The whole of the crew, thirtj'-three in number, aud Mr Fordham, the tidewater, have been summoned as witnesses.

The following address of condolence was presented to the captain : —

" We, the undersigned passengers and emigrants of the ship Montmorency, take this opportunity of expressing our thanks to Capt. McKenzie for his care and attention to all on board during the voyage, and fur the impartiality and tho justice of his dealings towards all classes. We also wish to offer him our condolence for the serious loss of his ship, and to testify that he exercised the utmost vigilance and caution throughout the passage, and never failed to be at hia post in times of difficulty and danger ; and though we met with tempestuous weather during part of the voyage, iiot so much as a spar was lost. He also lias taken the greatest interest in the welfare of the emigrants since landing, when, in consequence of the confusion attending their arrival, together with tbe unprepared slate of the depot, they were at a loss how to act, and turned towards him as their best friend and adviser : —H. H. Herbert, J. P. Ogilby, B. Starky, Louisa Cleary, Wm. Orr, Mrs Orr, E. M. Spiers, M. M. Orr, John Orr, D. G. Orr, Wm. Orr, junior, and by nearly all the emigrants.