DESTRUCTION OF THE "MATHESIS" BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 48, 2 February 1842, Page 4

DESTRUCTION OF THE "MATHESIS" BY FIRE.

The following account of the conflagration on board the ship "Mathesis,''is taken from the lips of two persons who were on board the "Mathesis" at the time of the accident, and its correctness may be depended on. The " Mathesis" left Dundee on the 2d June, 1841, for this port, with 86 emigrants on board. She had a most favorable passage till the 9th of August,when in lat. 260 40' S., long. 200 30' W„ between eleven and twelve forenoon of that day, the third mate was in the store room getting out provisions, when some straw which was laying loose caught fire by a spark from his candle; the fire spread rapidly, and when the alarm was given great confusion look place—so much so that little could be done. The seamen were ordered to clear away the boats; but instead of doing so, they got into them and pushed off, leaving the captain, officers, and emigrants on board ship. After order was restored in some degree, the emigrants passed along water with a will; the hatches were put on, and sails put over them to prevent ventilation; the tops were knocked out of seven water casks, which were filled with water, tbe hatches were then removed and the water poured in, and the hatches immediately put on again. This was repeated several times—in fact, as long as they were able for the exertion. At 5 p. m., when the fire was a good deal subdued, the seamen returned on board and assisted in drawing water; this was continued till the evening of Tuesday, the 10th, when it was supposed the fire was out. The pumps were now manned to get quit of some of the water they had poured in, and at six on the morning of Wednesday the water was well out of her. On removing the hatches at 8 a. m., the hold was still full of smoke, but in a short time they were able to descend. They then bore away for Rio Janeiro, where they arrived on the 27th August. The cargo was 1 much destroyed and sold for very little ; the ship has sustained great damage,—-so much so that in one part on scraping a little off the inside with the nail, we reached the copper ; the ship's chronometers were quite destroyed.— Port Phillip Herald. The Mary Nixon, in coming to her anchorage, went ashore at Port Drake. All the boats available in the Bay, went to her aid, and from the calm state of the weather, it is expected she may be got off Without much injury.— lbid.