BURNING OF THE SHIP MARANOA, AT SEA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 29, 8 March 1866, Page 4

BURNING OF THE SHIP MARANOA, AT SEA.

[From the Times of India.']

The ship Maranoa, Captain Birch, left Bombay on 6th November, with a cargo of coal for Aden. She experienced fine weather and a fair wind until the 14th, up to which time all went well. Ou this date the wind dropped and a calm ensued, the heat of the weather being excessive. During the day steam was observed coming up the hatches, when an immediate examination of the cargo was made, but nothing was discovered to lead to the conclusion that the coal had taken fire j all appeared perfectly safe, and tho hold was quite cool. At 4 a.m. the next morning, the 15th, it was noticed that very little steam was coming up the hatches, but at daylight it was observed that the steam began to assume the appearance of smoke, and at about tho same time a moderate breeie sprang up. At six o'clock it was ascertained beyond doubt that it was smoke coming up from below, and the terrible reality broke upon them that tho cargo was on fire. In order to be prepared for any emergency that might arise, two water-casks on the deck were immediately filled with fresh water. Shortly afterwards the cook,* who was going aft to the captain's cabin, perceived flames coming up the after ventilator, which he immediately reported to the captain, who had remained on deck nearly the whole night from apprehensions of danger. The captain immediately ordered the hatches to be battened down, in order if possible to stifle the flames, and assembled the entire crew to acquaint them with their position. He then divided them into gangs. The first was placed under the orders of Mr. Cowell, the first officer, who was directed to get the boats out ; the second gang, under the direction of the steward, was appointed to get provisions and water in readiness for the boats ; while another was employed in passing water on to the after hatch, it having burned through a few minutes after being battened down. It was then found necessary to place all the spare sails over the hatch in order to get the boats off the skids, which were directly over the after-hatch, The fourth gang was occupied, under the direction of the fourth office)', in getting the top-gallant studding sails out of the tops to make ■ails for the boats. By half-past nine the chronometer, compasses, the crew's kit, and a supply of provisions had been passed into the boats. Having only a limited quantity of fresh water, an attempt was now made to get a supply from below. The head pump pipe was out away as far down as possible, when the first officer and a seaman named James Roach volunteered to proceed below and place the end in a water-cask, which they succeeded in doing, although the smoke was most denee at the time. At that moment the hatches blew up with a loud explosion, when flames and dense volumes of ■moke issued from all the hatches. The crew were then called aft, and held in readiness to get into the boats. By noon flames were breaking out all over the ship, and the masts and sails then caught firo. The crew immediately took to the boats ; the flames in the meantime were found breaking out of the ship's side, within a foot of the water line. At halfpast twelve the boats were compelled to cost off from the ship, in order to avoid being swamped by the falling masts and spars. Ten minutes afterwards the mainmast fell by the board, the boats meanwhile laying on their oars to watch the progress of tho flames. An hour afterwards the mizenmast fell over the side, and 3 o'clock the foremast fell, taking with it the jibboom. As nothing was to be gained by staying longer by the burning vessel, the captain considered how best to provide for the safety of the crew, They wore then in lat. 15.41 N ., and long. 68.34 E., or about 700 miles from Bombay. To have returned to the latter place would have bcon impossible, owing to the head winds, and it was, therefore, decided to steer for Aden, (about 900 miles.) Sails were at once rigged, and, in order to keep together, all the boats wero taken in tow of the long boat. At 9 o'clock the same evening it was found necessary to cast adrift the second cutter, it being leaky, and three men being found insufficient to keep it afloat. At midnight the ■hip had burned down to the water's edge, and at 4 o'clock, the flames suddenly disappearing, it was then known that she must have gone down ; at daylight no traces of her could be seen.

During the whole day the boats continued thoir course without a vessel appearing in sight. No vessel was seen either on the following day. The boats continued in tow of the long boat. The provisions were served out at regular hour*, but it was found necessary to restrict the water to one quart for each man per day. On tho 18th they experienced a moderate E.N.E. wind, but no sail appeared in light,. At daylight on the 19th they sighted Bast Fertak, bearing N.N.W., and about forty mile 3 distant. It was then found necessary to still further restrict the supply of fresh water to one pint and ahalf per day for each man. On the evening of the 19th the breeze freshened and the sea rose, during which the stern of the gig was dragged out, and her provisions and crew had to be transferred to the other boat, the injured boat being cast adrift. This day and the next were both passed without any vessels being sighted, but on the morning of the 21st a vessel was observed bearing south. They trimmed sails and put out all the oars to overtake her which they accomplished in two hours, when she proved to be a native bugalow. They obtained a supply of water and parted company at nine o'clock, being then abreast of Macullah, and made all sail again for Aden. No other vessels were seen during the remainder of tho day, and at daylight the next morning (the 22nd), land was seen a long way off. During the day several birds alighted on the boat and remained.

At noon, the smoke from a steamer was observed bearing S.W. by S. Soils were trimmed in order to approach her, and the oars got out to assist their progress j the ensign was also placed at the masthead of the long-boat, with the Union down as a signal of distress. The Anxiety of the crew was now interne, but it was soon relieved, for, by the steamer changing its course and bearing down for the boats, it was known that their signal of distress had been observed. By I*2o they were alongside what proved to be the F. and 0. Company's mail-steamer Malta. The captain of the Maranoa, probably thinking it hopeless to expect so many to be taken on board the mail-steamer, merely asked to be supplied with water, and to be allowed to continue their voyage to Aden. This, however, Captain Hyde, of the Malta, would not listen to. It appears that, before reaching the boats, they had arrived at the conclusion that their services would bo required, and, after consulting Mr. Black, it was decided to bring all the crew on to Bombay. The preparations had already been made, and tackle for raising the boats prepared ; and, before Captain Birch had time to express regret that his boat would have to be cast adrift, they were hauled on deck, and the mail-steamer was again proceeding on her voyage, but little more than two hoars having elapsed since the steamer was first sighted. The crew of tho Maranoa, numbering in all thirtyone, had thus been more than a week m open boats, during which they had proceeded over 800 miles. The cause of the burning of the Maranoa will doubtless be officially inquired into, but it appears to have arisen from sponstaneous combustion. The vessel was owned by Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., of Liverpool, the Bombay agents being Messrs. Wallace and Co. She was insured for £16,000, and had been chartered, as above stated, to convey 2,000 tons of coal to Aden for the use of the Bombay and Bengal Steamship Company, which cargo is also insured.

Nrw Mdcibal.— A now mineral of lead has been discovered in Chili, containing ten per cent, of iodine. lodine has lately becpme very valuable, on account of its extensire use in photography, and of the discovery by Dr. Hoffman of a new dye, having this element among its constituents. It is said that one cargo of the new mineral will represent a fortune. As a further illustration of the progress that mining adventure is making in South America, a mine of bismuth ore has recently been opened in Bolivia, about two-thirds up the highest of all the peaks of the Andes— the Iljampu Mountain. Bismuth also has lately increased m value, and 15,000 feet above the level of the ocean, only slightly beneath the line of perpetual snow, men are setting to work to obtain it.