SHIP 'CITY OF AUCKLAND' ON FIRE. £25,000 WORTH OF CARGO DESTROYED. THE VESSEL SCUTTLED.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4196, 25 January 1871, Page 2

SHIP 'CITY OF AUCKLAND' ON FIRE. £25,000 WORTH OF CARGO DESTROYED. THE VESSEL SCUTTLED.

We think we shall be borne out when we say that the accident which befel Captain Ashbys noble vessel, the ' City of Auck. land, 'yesterday, was regarded by everyone iv the light of a real public calamity. Captain Ashby ha 3 traded bo long to this port, and has secured for himself such a large circle of friends, that the interest in the fate of any vessel under his command was for boyond the interest with which ordinary vessels trading to this port are regarded. We all remember what a deep interest was always felt^in the passages of the good ship ' Siain' ; but in the case of the ' City of Auckland' there was even more reason we should all be proud of her. She was specially built to adapt her for convey- ! ing home the produce chiefly shipped here, and ' she was called after our city. Her splendid performances on her first passage outward and back, as well as her second voyage out, showed that she was indeed a ship which would do credit to the place after which she was named. It had been settled that the 'City of Auckland' should bethe Regatta flagship thia year, as she was last time, and as the good old ' Siam' Y&<L so iYi^uentily been, before her. There were pleasant anticipations of another day with Captain Ashby, whose genial and kindly nature on these gala days contributed so much to their general happiness ; and already Captain Ashbys friends had begun to wish him a pleasant voyage home. The ship had nearly finished loading her cargo, and it was estimated that on Monday night there was on board wool, flax, gum, tallow, oil, &c, to the value of nearly £30,000. Forty passengers had been attracted by the superior accommodation of the vessel to take passage by her, and, if there is one consolatory consideration in the midst of this disaster, it is that they were spared the horrors of a fire at sea It was about one o'clock yesterday morning that the 'City of Auckland' was discovered to be on fire forward. A watchman named Kell is said to have given the first alarm from the shore, and in a very few minutes a number of people were on board. Amongst the first were Sergeant Jetfery, of the Armed Constabulary, Constable Carrigan and a comrade of the water x»olice, and Mr. Landers, assistant wharfinger. Mr. Asher ' AsLer witli eJgkfc mfeu of the Firo Bi'ig&do camo on the scene at a later hour, toufc svero unable to render very material aid. However, the northern, engine was got to play upon the vessel, Avhile the officers and men of the 'Hero,' and 'Santiago,' under the direction of Captain Logan, did their best to extinguish the fire. At about five o'clock the vessel was moved out into the stream, having an engine on board; but there was a fatal delay owing to a blundering piece of stupidity, the only hose in use having been taken on shore when the vessel cast off. However, this was remedied : a hole was then made on the starboard side, and three or four bales of burning flax were got out and thrown overboard. At sovon o'clock it became evideut that) the only hope d saving Vhe ship Srran rate ftfetfcnYtttwv lay iw switolmg for. •, awd — after a, consultation between Captain Ellis, Harbourmaster; Mr. Miller, H.M.C.; Captain Clayton, Nautical Assessor ; Captain Anderson, Capthin Williams, H.M.C.; and Mr. D. Cruickshank, the agent —it was agreed that this should be done. For this purpose the vessel .was moved into about four fathoms of water at half tide. Mr. Beddoes soon made a hole two feet square forward on the starboard side, and a second hole one foot square amidships on the aame side. As the water poured into the vessel through the holes, and by the aid of the vigorously-worked pumps, the vessel gradually heeled over to port, aud at about a quarter to twelve o'clock it is believed she rested on the bottom. By this time the deck on the port.side was slightly submerged, and men were employed baling water down the main-hatch, with all their might. The fire obstinately burned forward, but very shortly more holes were cut into the deck, and gradually the vessel righted, the whole o£ the deck, eXfifeJit a small portion forward, being entirely covered < with water. The last point where the fire j held out was immediately below the fore- | castle, the bows being so much raised out of the water as to leave a considerable portion at the top of the 'tween-deck untouched. Ultimately, however, the fire wag completely extinguished. This, however, was not accomplished without great pluck and perseverance on the part of several men who worked in the thick of the smoke issuing from the fore-hatch. His Honor the Superintendent visited the vessel at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and expressed his sympathy with Captain Ashby and others. The progress of the fire was observed by thousands of spectators from the wharf, the shipping in harbour, the breakwater, and other points from which a good view was obtained. STATEMENTS OF THE OFFICERS. The following statements by several of the officers of the vessel were made to our reporter, and taken down by Mm • Captain Ashby sstatcd : I examined every bale of flax that came on board the vessel, and there were only two out of the entire cargo that I found it necessary to reject. I do not believe that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion in the flax, or gum, or wool. The ship was very carefully stowed by Mr. Frederick Combes. She was nearly full. In the lower hold there were 300 cases of kauri gum, belonging to Must and Co. Brown, Campbell, and Co. had about 400 cases more. There were also 35 tuna of ail belonging to Cruickshank, Smart, and Co., and 20 tons of tallow, belonging to Brown, Campbell, and Co. There were 100 tons guano. About 300 tons of flax was in the 'tween-decks forward. The flax was stowed entirely by itself in the 'tv\ een-decks, by the fore hatchway, where the fire broke out. There was no flax in the lower hold. The 'City' was built at a cost of £20,000, and I cannot tell whether the ship is insured a penny. She was insured for the trip out, and 3l> days afterwards. I sent home a renewal of the insurance, but I cannot tell whether it will reach home before the news of this disaster. The fire broke out just yrbsis i&ft tbatK. was \ t do not believe tU»fe rfc is fco blame. I took homo 1, 800 bales iast voyage, and the previous voyage 2,000 bales l I met with no accident on those occasions, I frequently examined the flax during the • voyages, and it was always perfectly dry and cool. When I got home and removed the cargo there was not the slightest indication of fire or spontaneous combustion in the flax, or gum, or wool. We expected to have the « City' loaded on Saturday, and forty passengers had engaged bertha. All the cargo was engaged. We were to have been the Regatta ship on Monday, and then to sail clean out. The flax was not screwed at all, but simply put in ita place. No pressure was used ; ifc was only temporarily stowed. The weather had been very fine, and the flax could not have got damp in taking it on board. The flax waa perfectly dry, and had been in store for some time. Charles Hudson, Norwegian, carpenter, volunteered the following statement to our reporter : I am carpenter of the ' City of Auckland.' I sailed with Captain Ashby in the 'Siam,' and have been with him a number of years. I left the ship to go ashore at 9 o'clock last night, and returned at a quarter to 16, or very nearly 10 o'clock. When I came on board I went into my cabin, where I found the engineer, who was sitting there reading a newspaper. I went to bed, and he went out on deck, where he remained talking to another man until about 11 o'clock. I went to sleep at about half-past 12 o'clock or 1 o'clock. I waa awoke by a creaking noise near my bed. I thought it was some j one knocking with a stick on the house, but j when I turned out and looked about me I, saw the deck lights all lighted up with flame. I then QalM tuifj H H» *W£ ft wv V* I

aroused my mate, the engineer, and his boy. Then I called the second mate, then the men in the forecastle. On coming on deck we looked down into the chain-pipes forward, where there was a very heavy smoke issuing oub. The second mate ordered us to put tarpaulins over the hatches. By this tune Mr. Landers had arrived. We got the ship's fire engine into operation immediately, and put the hose down the chain-pipe, abreast of the foremast. There was a delay of very nearly two hours from the time we discovered the fire until the engines were got to work. Ih *as after 3 o'elook before tho first of tb.o fire-engines from tits town was afc -woifc. When I first saw the fire ifc wag on the starboard side, about six feet distant from the carpenter's cabin. There was another light ten feet from it. The pitch was boiling in the seams in my cabin, which was quite full of smoke. Just in the place where I saw the fire first there was a quantity of flax and tow. There was no gum there ; there were only two casks of gum in the fore hatchway. We got one of them out, but the other rolled out of reach. When I first saw tho fire, I told our boy to ring the ship's bell, and, when that commenced, the signal was taken up by the fire-bell at the end of the wharf. I was in the ship's hold at 5.30 o'clock last evening, abreast the water-tank. There was then no indication whatever of fire. When the fore, main, and after hatches were put on at 6 o'clock, there was no sign whatever of fire. The hatches were fastened securely. The crew saved most of their things. Thomas Davis, second mate, made tho following statement to our reporter : This is Toy aftcowd t fcy&g<a in. the ' City o£ Auckland.' I was not out of the sLip last night. I turned in at 11 o'clock, and there was then no smell of fire nor any sign of smoke. I was awakened by the carpenter, who told me the ship was on fire. I came out on deck and looked down the fore hatchway, when I saw smoke. I immediately ordered the bells to be rung. The fire-engine came down at about 20 minutes to three o'clock, and the hose played down the fore-hatch. I also sent a messenger for Captain Ashby and for tho Harbourmaster. The officers and crew o£ the vessel were soon busily engaged in endeavouring to extinguish the fire. We were assisted by tho officers of the 'Santiago,' and by Captain Logan, "of the 'Hero.' The latter was on board just immediately after the bell commenced ringing, and he assisted to tho utmost in getting the hose to play where the fire then appeare Ito be, aud also in cutting open the deck upon the starboard side. It was 3 o'clock before the fire- engi tie could do any good. At about 4 o'clock the fire had got a stroDg hold and was coming out of the main Kafceli. O&£fcamEUi9 7 Hav % bom i inaater,th.enGoii < suited mfen Captain Logan, au<i fcaey cteaded to move the vessel away from the wharf. We had previously got the lio.es all ready, and the moorings adrift. We got the fire-engine on board, and cast the ship off from the wharf. We unshackled and slipped the chains, hauling the ship off to the buoy at a little after 4 o'clock. Captain Ashby ordered the removal of tho powder from the magazine. There was only one small can, and that was removed. We soon got down the fire. There was no flame forward, nothing but smoke. The vessel stopped at the buoy for some time, and Mr. Landers, assistant wharfinger, let go the anchor. This was about six o'clock. Captain Ashby ordered the anchor to be hove up, A lino ? w®s ran to foe Vra&>y&Vra> a-nft. \fcs> s&aj* <ftTV& 'aov^ to l\w present position, off tha breakwater. By this time the men of the Fire Brigade were oJigaged in pumping. Captain Ashby was very loth to scuttle the ship up to the last moment that there appeared to be the slightest chance of saving her. At last a consultation was held, aud it was decided that it was the only step that would save the hull from destruction. At about half-past 9 o'clock, hole 3 were cut in the ship's side. Three holes were cut in the starboard side. The ship had a list to port, and it was hoped, by cutting the holes on the starboard side, that she would heel over to that side, but she still lay towards the port side. A great many of the things belonging to the crew was passed .ishore on to the wharf. I saw the hatches put on at six o'clock last night, when everything was secure. There was not the least indication. 01- smell of fire. Wo took 100 bales tow forward in the afternoon, and 50 were put on the starboard side near the main batch, but they were not stowed. Richard Hatxia, engineer, mads ih& fftl. Iftwiug statement to our reports? '.—The carpenter called rue afc about half-past 1 o'clock this morning. When I turned out I sawfire through the deadlight.

THE CARGO. The following is a correct list of the cargo, so far as we have been able to ascertain : Must and Co. : 739 cases gum, 65 bales wool, 7 casks sperm oil— insured. Gittos : 15 bales wool — insured. Combea and Daldy : 100 tons guano, 5 casks phosphate— insured. Scarrott : 33 bales -wool— insured. Storch and Co. : 419 cases gum— insured. Rolph, Sterry, and Co. : 163 cases gum' Must and Co. : 343 cases gum, 7 casks gum, 221 bales flax—insured. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company : 53 bales flax. Henderson and Macfarlane : 200 package* gum— partially insured. 6 •J. liumb — SO <j&s«s gvisa. R. Walker .• 7 tons gum— insured Brown, Campbell, and Co. : 200 eases gum, 20 tons tallow! 8

THE LOSS. The principal losses will fall upon the insurance companies. We believe the damage i°oßn™ Carg mu at ? «>««W7 estimated tt £25 000. The injuries to the ship are principally confined to the deck, which is much charred underneath in the forepart, the after-part, however, beina uninjured. The principal damage & caused by the holes cut at different parts of the deck, to enable the hose to be directed into the hold. Some six or seven small holes were cut in the main deck, and several of the deadlights were broken in. The shin's stores suffered very little except in the course of removal to the quarter-deck, where they remained high and dry after the ship had settled down. The saloon escaped injury, the water not having reached it.

RAISING THE VESSEL. No sooner had the fire been extinguished than energetic preparations were 0Q w fcfl once invited fa bheerealng papers for raising pumping dry, and mooring the ship alongl sido the wharf. At six o'clock in the evenmg the tenders, eight in number, were opened, and that of Messrs. Niccol and Son was accepted, the amount being £94. The tenders ranged as high as £450. Messrs. Niccol and Son commenced work last evening, and it is expected that in a couple of days at least the ' City of Auck. land' will again be brought alongside the Queen-street Wharf. The work of repairing the vessel will be proceeded with as rapidly as possible, and it is intended to hay© all the necessary repairs done in Auckland. As a proof of the substantial manner in which, the • City of Auckland ' has been built, we may mention that one of the carpenters em. ployed In cutting the holes to scuttle the vessel states that he found the timber harder than any he had met with for many years past. That the good ship wiU. ere long be restored to her former sound condition, and will make many a pleasant voyage between the old country and NewZealand, ia a hope which we feel sure will be universally shared in.

The following recruits have proceeded to Wellington, per 'Lord Ashley,' to join the depdt :— Henry Clarke, Charles Wellesley, William Howell, William H. Addison, Robert Sinclair, John Stevenson, John. Barkley,McDonald, Gunn, Down ; Constable Price, A.C. Force. In charge, Sub-Inspector Ferris, Armed Constabulary. The Chairman of the City Board of Commissioners calls for tender* fyt the. removf I