THE EMIGRANT SHIP PIAKO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5587, 21 January 1879, Page 6

THE EMIGRANT SHIP PIAKO.

Wc have from time to time afforded our readers such information as we have been furnished with by tho New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), respecting tho disaster which necessitated the above vessel going into Pernambuco. By the mail, which arrived here on Sunday, the Company has received full advices both from London and from the master of the ship, and these having been placed at our disposal we are enabled to present a narrative of the accident, which must prove interesting to all who have friends on board the vessel. The Piako is a clipper built iron vessel, launched from the yard of Messrs Alexander Stephen and Sons in 1877, and registering 1075 tons. She has made two successful voyages to and from the Colony, and on this occasion was on her third voyage. The ship left Plymouth bound to Lyttelton on the morning of Oct. 11, under command of Capt. W. B. Boyd; being well officered and manned and equipped. Besides a cargo of about 1050 tons, she had 288 immigrants on board. Tho earlier part of the voyage was uneventful, and the ship made a splendid run, and on Nov 11 was in about 7 lat. south, long. 32 west —or less than 200 miles from Pernambuco. At 10.15 a.m. of that day, Cant. Boyd had just left the deck, and was in his cabin making an entry in his official log, when Mr Holbeoke, the chief officer, came to him, and reported that smoke was issuing through the lower fore hatch. Captain Boyd at once went forward, and removing one of the hatches, went below. There was every sign cf fire, but the smoke was not dense. He at once ordered the fire bell to be rung, and the hoses were brought to play down the hatchway over the coal, while a full force was put on to break out cargo, and find out where the fire was. Within six minutes of the first report of the fire, Captain Boyd distinctly saw a flame about 20ft abaft the foremost tier of cargo. At once the hose was brought to play on it, under the direction of the second officer, Mr Hazlewood. Thecaptain then ran on deck to get the carpenter to cut a hole in the ’tween decks over the flame. He was not absent two minutes, but on his return huge volumes of black sulphurous smoke were coming up the hatchway, and the men were running up on deck to save their lives. Captain Boyd then at once closed down the hatches and covered everything with wet blankets. He tried then to get through by the married people’s compartment, but he and his volunteers were driven back almost stifled. All the hatches were then and also the scuppers, and the master had the main deck flooded, the two engines playing down the fore hatch, and holes cut in the upper deck, the donkey engine playing down the air shaft.

Captain Boyd at this time altered the ship’s course to make Pernambuco. In a comparatively short time the combings of the hatches became so hot that they could not be touched. Meanwhile all the boats were got out alongside and some stores put in, but even from the after storeroom the hands were driven back by the fire, and that had to be battened down too.

About 2 p.m., most providentially a barque ■was sighted on the weather bow, and Captain Boyd made signals of distress, and bore up to her. The vessel proved to be the Loch Boon, bound from San Francisco to Cork. At 3 p.m., Captain Boyd commenced the transhipment of his passengers, which was happily accomplished in two hour# without the slightest accident.

Of course, now that all danger of the sacrifice of human life was past, Captain Boyd’s chief anxiety was over, but having done his duty by the passengers, he was loath to neglect the further heavy interests confided to him, and determined not to abandon his ship and cargo if his crew would stick by him. He told them he intended if possible to take the ship into port; and every man on board said that he would and did stick to the ship. And right manfully they worked, never leaving the pumps till 4 p.m. of the 13th, when the ship reached Pernambuco roads, the Loch Doon following her and reaching there a few hours afterwards. carefully observed, and the captain is certain no one could have got down below. Immediately on his arrival at Pernambuco, Captain Boyd waited on H.6.M. Consul and conferred with him and the President of the State, as to arrangements for the care and comfort of the emigrants. Everything possible was done to ameliorate their unfortunate position. They were all landed on Cocoanut Island (Elba de Moqueira), where a large house and outbuildings were available. The ■Consul was unwilling to supply clothing, but Captain Boyd at once ordered it for the emigrants at the Company’s expense, and also arranged for their being provisioned suitably; and at the date of the advices all were in excellent health and spirits, and most comfortably housed.

To revert to the ship : The fire was gaining rapidly, and it was deemed necessary to scuttle her. She was smoking and blazing up to the moment when she was submerged. _ Late telegraphic advices have apprised the Company of the raising of the ship and her sailing again with her living freight on Dec, 29, and she may be expected here about Feb. 10 or 15.

A perusal of Captain Boyd’s simple narrative of the accident leaves the impression that he acted with calmness, judgment, discretion, and energy, under most trying circumstances, and doubtless to these circumstances, and to the excellent support he received from his officers and crew, is to be attributed the happy result. Ho lives have been lost, and though the cargo must all be more or less damaged, the ship has been saved.