DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE SHIP MONTMORENCY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 839, 30 March 1867, Page 2

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE SHIP MONTMORENCY.

The morning of Thursday last brought to many — indeed to nearly every one — the astonishing aud almost incredible news that the fine ship Montmorency, which arrived on tho afternoon of Sunday last, with immigrants, had been totally destroyed by fire during the night while lying at the anchorage., The news proved to ba too true, there being, i 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 1 about itol2 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 in--1 stantly on deok. Capt. 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 smoke issuing from the hatchway, He ordered both engineß to be rigged and the hose passed down the hatohway. The hatoh of the lower hold was taken off, when the flames were seen, apparently on the.porfc side. The chief offioer, boatswain and sailmaker went down between ' decks and pointed the 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 orew in clearing away the boats, to ensure safely of life. The chief officer then went aft, fired several rookets and burnt blue lights, so as attraot attention from shore. By this time, so rapidly did tho flames gather strength, fire was issuing through tha 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 1 deck, and was proceeding through the hatchway in the forecastle. It was evident, in--1 deed, thafc the flames were irresistible, and again a number of rookets were sent up, that assistance might be obtained from shore, Soon after, a parfc of the crew were orde r ed to take to the boats, and to secure, if possible, t their personal effects ; but very few of them succeeded iv 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 _ 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 -state of things becoming hopeless, the remaining portion of the crew were ordered into the boats, and to lay on their oars clear of the ship. This, as near as can be estimated, was at \to 1 a.m. The chief officer, the 2nd officer, and Mr. Fordham, the custom house officer, remained on board a little longer. Tbe flames by this time were coming out of the hatoh on the poop, and the rigging was all on fire—presenting a magnificent yet mournful spectacle • from the shore. The faot of tho ship being on fire was first seen from the barrack hill by Lieut. Britten, of the 12th regiment, who rode down to the Spit and gave the alarm. This was not, however, before the flames had gained complete ascendancy, and the loss of ship and cargo was inevitable. From the first, indeed, this was the case, and the want of prompt assistance made no difference whatever. Tho cargo included over 100 casks of spirits, and a quantity of other goods of an inflammable character, and the volume of firo which shot up to heaven was immense, as well as singular in appearance. The sight is described as grand in the extreme, although of course such as to create feelings of deep sorrow for such a calamity. After the fire reached the deok, 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 tha stern into the boats. After leaving, the boat was pulled to the bow, and another, but ineffectual effort, made to scuttle the ship. About £ to 1 tho pilot boat, in charge of Capt. Cellem, came off* and, ten minutes later, Capfc. McKenzie arrived iv the boat belonging to the Btar of the South, Nothing, however, could be done : an attempt was made to unshackle tho chaiu, so as to let the ship go clear of her moorings, which proved fruitless ; about an hour after, however, it was Junshackled from the mooring buoy, but tho ship still held on by her anchor and by the chain whioh had boen detached from the buoy. The boats Jay off the ship till about J past 4 a.m. The masts by that time had fallen. The foremast went a little after 4, falling over the starboard bow ; then the main top mast and uppe;- yards; then the main mast, which fell aft and brought the mizzen masfc 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. Jn 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 beeu iustructed to that effeot by tbe 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 Capt. Bendall, which proved successful, and what remains of the once noble ship is now stranded on the beach, between the Spit and the Bluff. Ifc is understood that the salvors' claim half of what they have recovered, the ship being assumed to have beeu abandoned. It will be seen, however, that tho wreck is advertised to be sold this day for the benefit of whom ifc may concern, Of the oause of this lamentable occurrence nothing is known, and conjecture is afc 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 thafc it did not break out at sea, when many lives must inevitably have beeu sacrificed. But the chief and 2nd officers were both down tho 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 ifc spread. The Montmorency had on board nearly 400 1 tons cargo, consigned to Messrs. Stuart ancl Co., Messrs. Watt Brothers, Messrs. Newton Irvine aud Co., aud others, The principal shipments aro covered by insurance, but tho . loss of winter drapery goods will be a source of great inconvenience to tho last named firm. A great many cases of individual loss , have, however, occurred. Although tho chronometers and part of the Captain's effects i were saved, they are so much damaged as to bo worthless, and his loss is probably equal to £200. The chief officer saved parfc of his clothes, but lost the remainder and a sum of money. Mr. Orr, a passenger, is a very serious loser. Ho had on board as cargo a large • quantity of agricultural implements, seed, -fee, uninsured • as well as his personal effects, which included plate, and some family pictures which cannot be replaced. His loss is ' probably not muoh under £1000. Fortnnatcly, 3 all the emigrants' luggago was landed, with f tho exception of ono or two paokages and 3 suoh of ifc as came under tho designation of ! freight ; but the cargo was just as ifc had beeu [ shipped— bulk not having been broken, nor, , indeed, tho ship entered at the customs, , The Montmorency is a well known ship in , the Australian trade. She was built at Que- ■ bee in 1855 as a Black Ball liner, and, being i remarkably roomy between decks, was a , favorite vessel for the conveyance of iramil grants. Indeed, she is said to have carried I more immigrants in her day than any other - British ship. Much sympathy is felt for i Captain McKenzie— who seems to have won . golden opinions from the passenger? and im- > migrants—as well as for the officers and sea- - men, most of whom havo lost everything, and . have to begin the world anew. i . An inquiry into the cause of tho fire will, [ we believe, take plaoe on Monday next a+, 1 1 i a.m., in the Council Chamber. The wholo of I the crew, 33 in numbor, aud Mr. Fordham the tidewater, have been summoned as witnesses.