BURNING OF A SHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 6863, 29 March 1886, Page 2

BURNING OF A SHIP.

[From Ouk Melbourne Correspondent,

The burning of the ship Paul Jones caused intense excitement in Melbourne. For some hours the name of the burning vessel was unknown. At one time it was feared that it was the Orient liner Liguria, from London, which had been signalled from Cape Otway. The Paul Jones was bound to Calcutta. She had been only three days at sea when the fire was discavered. Both the Melbourne papers contain graphic accounts of the disaster, the narratives of the officers and crew covering columns of space. The most interesting is from Rolof, one of tho crew, who says : Soon after the captain went to dinner I had occasion to go alongside the man at the wheel, who said " There's smoke coming up about here." I first thought it might be the captain having a pipe, but the smell and the increased volume of smoke convinced me that the ship was on fire, I therefore gave the alarm, and the second mate at once called up the captain and clnef mate. Some of the crew who were still in bed had to bo aroused. There was great excitement among men for a few moments, but the coolness of tl\e captain and officers inspired all with confidence, and we speedily endeavored to quell the flames. We poured buckets of water into \\\& lazarette, where the fire secured to have started, and the forcepump waa also brought to bear; but the smoke was so thick and stifling that we could not get at the seat of the fire. Each time that the hatch was lifted clouds of smoke and flame belched forth, singeing our hair, whiskers, and eyebrows, and burning our faces and hands. It soon became evident that the fire had gained the mastery, and that the ship was doomed to destruction. We could not overpower the flames, for the oil which was stored in the lazarctte was all ablaze. There was a barrel of linseed and boiled oil and a large quantity of paraffin oil for tho lamps, When the fire took hold of this the heat became intense and the fumes perfectly suffocating. Pitcli oozed from between the deck planks, and quickly the whole of the vessel aft was one mass of flame. Captain Winn saw that it was a hopeless case, and the boats were lowered hurriedly, provisioned, and most of the men's things tumbled into them. We were prevented from saving all by the dense smoke, which made it very risky to go below. In spite of the efforts of the captain and the men working at the pumps, the fire steadily gained ground, driving them further forward. Still they fought the flames ; but, before long, the men were compelled to take to the boats. At last the captain and chief mate were the only ones left on board. Both had shown the greatest courage, and so eager was Captain Winn to save his ship that he neglected to save anything except the chronometers. Charts and bool s, the accumulation of a lifetime, and all his clothes were utterly destroyed. The captain was determined not to leave the ship till lie was driven from her. "Is every man aboard safe ':" shouted the captain above the roaring of the flames. " Aye, aye, Bir," was the ready response ; but not until he h'ad been reassured that there was not a single man left would he quit the vessel, We pulled towards the ship Antiope, from London, which was making for us. We were tak ( en aboard and treated with great kindness. For a long time we could see the flames and smoke from the burning Vessel. It was a!n awfully magnificent spectacle. The sky above was blood-red, and the sea illuminated for miles around. I have had some startling experiences in the course of my seafaring life, but the destruction of the Paul Jones eclipsed them all." The burning ship was subsequently passed by the Liguria, and eventually scuttled by the steamer Despatch sent by the Government to render assistance.