DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE SHIP 'MONTMORENCY' AT NAPIER. (FROM THE "HAWKER'S BAY HERALD," MARCH 30.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3026, 8 April 1867, Page 6

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE SHIP 'MONTMORENCY ' AT NAPIER. (FROM THE "HAWKER'S BAY HERALD," MARCH 30.)

Thx morning of Thursday last brought to many—indeed to nearly every one—the astonishing and almost incredible news that the fine ihip ' Montmorency,' which arrived on the afternoon of Sunday last, with immigrants, had been totally destroyed by fire during the night while lying at the anchorage. The news proved to be too true, there being, at daylight, but little remaining of what, but a few days before, had " walked the waters like a thing of life." The fire was discovered about 11.45 on Wednesday night — the man on watch having detected smoke issuing out of the fore hatchway. He immediately raised the alarm, and officers and crew were instantly on the deck. Captain McKenzie was on shore —the first time he had left the ship siuce her arrival—and the command was taken by the chief officer, who, upon going forward, found a dense smoke issuing from the hatchway. The hatch of the lower hold was taken off, when the flames was seen, apparently on the port ride. The chief officer, boatswain, and sailmaker went dowm between decks and pointed the hose into the hold, bnt 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 wa» to close the hatchet, 10 as to stifle the fire for the time being, and to employ part of the crew in clearing away the boats, to ensure safety of life. The chief officer then went aft, fired several rockets 'and burnt blue lights, so as attract attention from shore. By this time, so rapidly did the flames gather strength, fire was issuing through the fore hatch to the 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 the heat and smoke. No great time had elapsed from the time the alarm was given, yet the fire had already caught the spare spars on the upper deck, and was proceeding through the hatchway in the forecastle. It was evident, indeed, that the flames were irresistible, and again a number of rockets were sent up, that assistance might be obtained from the shore. Soon after, a part of the crew were ordered to take to the boats, aud to secure, if possible, their personal effects; but very few of them succeeded in saving anything. The carpenter was also ordered to scuttle the ship, but he found it impossible to do so on account of the swell. By half-past 12 the flames had reached right aft to the poop. More rockets were fired, and there being no appearance of boats from the shore, and the Btate of things becoming hopeless, the remaining portion of the crew were ~*>dered into the boat, and to lie on their oars clear °~ , u m>. This, as near as can be estimated, was of the su^ , %mt ThQ chief officerj the second at a quarter to * -^ Custom-house officer, officer, and Mr. Fordhau., r j he flames by remained on board a little lon^_ . 0 poop this time were coming out of the hatch ou -anil and the rigging was all on fire —presenting a mi. bficent yet mournful spectacle from the shore. The fact of the ship being on fire was first seen from the • -*ck hill by Lieutenant Britten, of the 12th Kegi- „ * t _hf rode down to the Spit and gave the alarm. ?hS wls not, however, before the flames had. gained complete ascendancy, and the loss of the ship and cargo was inevitable. Prom the first, indeed, this was the case, and the want of prompt assistance made no difference whatever. The cargo included over 100 casks of spirits, and a quantity of other eoodsof an inflammable character, and the volume of fire which shot up to heaven was immense, as well as singular in *}?peara*<®. The sight is des. cribed as grand in the extreme, atfhough of course such as to create feelings of &*P «°W for such a calamity. After the fire reached C\s*£f° rigging was the first to be ignited; vOW- »W *•£•" yard, causing the main topsail to drop u" WB Mf a Z2 O poop. Soon after, the chief officer and in* others who remained on board were forced to drojT over the stern into the boati. After leaving, the boat was pulled to the bow, and another, but ineffectual effort, made to scuttle the ship. About a quarter ts 1 the pilot boat, in charge o£ Captain Cellem, came off; and ten minutes later, Captain McKenzie arrived in the boat belong 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 the chain which had been detached from the buoy. The boats lay off the ship till about half-past 4 a.m. The mists by that time had fallen. The fore-mast went down a little after 4, falling over the starboard bow; then the main-top-mast and upper yard; then the main-mast, which fell aft and brought the mizzenmast 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, con tinned to smoulder throughout the day. In the course of the forenoon, the ' Star of the South, 9 s.s., went out to the scene of the disaster with the view of unshackling the chain, if possible, and towing the hulk 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 coming in contact with the burning ship. Yesterday, another attempt was made by Mr. Warnes and Captain Bendall, which proved successful, and what remains of the once noble ship is now stranded on the beach, between the Spit and the Bluff. It is understood that the salvors claim half of what they 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 known, 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 fore-hold on the forenoon of Wednesday, and they saw or smelt nothing to excite their suspicions. The mystery attending the catastrophe is onlj equalled by its appalling suddenness, and the rapidity with which it spread. The * Montmorency' had on board nearly 400 tons cargo, consigned to Messrs. Stuart and Co., Messrs. Watt Brothers, Messrs. Newton, Irvine, and Co., and others. The principal shipments are covered by insurance, but the loss of winter drapery goods will be a source of great inconvenience to the last .named firm. A great many cases of individual loss have, however, occurred. Although the chronometers and part of the captain's effects were 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 large quantity of agriculral implements, seeds, &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 under £1,000. Fortunately, all the immigrants' luggage was landed, with the exception of one or two packages and such of it as came under the designation of freight; but the cargo was just as it had as it had been shipped—bulk not having been broken, nor, indeed, the ship entered at the 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 favourite vessel for the conveyance of emigrants. Indeed, she is said to have carried more emigrants in her day than any other British ship. Much sympathy is felt for Captain McKenzie—who seems to have won golden opinions from the passengers and immigrants —as well as for 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 was held on Monday, the Ist instant, in the Council Chamber. The whole of the crew, 33 in number, and Mr. Fordham the, tidewaiter, were summoned, as witnesses. After hearing the evidence, the Court came to the conclusion that there wai nothing ia the evidence to show how or in what manner the fire occurred.