DESTRUCTION OF A NEW ZEALAND PACKET-SHIP BY FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 35, 25 December 1861, Page 4

DESTRUCTION OF A NEW ZEALAND PACKET-SHIP BY FIRE.

The loss of the London and New Zealand passenger ship William Brown, Captain Barclay, commander, was made in London on the 19th of October by the arrival of one of the passengers. The ill-fated vessel was totally destroyed by fire on the night of the 2nd of October, in latitude 36*44, longitude 22-3 W., near the Western Islands, and it is gratifying to state that, with the exception of one man, the steward, who is supposed to have been suffocated, the whole of the passengers and crew were saved. The William Browne was a barque-rigged vessel, about 500 tons, classed A lat Lloyds, and was taken up by Messrs. Shaw and Savill, the New Zealand emigration agents and brokers, Leadenhall street, for a voyage to New Plymouth. She had a general cargo of merchandise, and some 11 or 12 first-class and steerage passengers. She sailed from Gravesend about the 7th of September, and all appeared to have gone well with the ship until about six o'clock on the evening of the 2nd of October, when she reached the above position. It was then discovered that a fire had broken out in her forepart, supposed to be by the bursting of some tins of oil or turpentine! stowed under the forecastle.

lie officers and crew went down in the hope of being >ble to stifle the flames, but they were unable to get lear the seat of mischief. The captain and crew nade another effort to extinguish the fire, and ifter four hours vigorous exertions it was appa•ent that the entire destruction of the ship was nevitable, and that no time, was to be lost in ibandoning her. The boats were ordered out, but, )wing to a heavy cross sea that was running, there was great difficulty in lowering them and keeping them clear of the ship. The crew succeeded in getting them«down, and the ship was finally abandoned at 11 o'clock. About one o'clock in the morning a brig was observed making towards them. The captain directed the gig to go to the brig, and she succeeded in reaching the vessel about three o'clock, and at six o'clock the other boats were descried, and the whole of the crew and passengers were safely got on board the brig, which proved to be the Swedish ship Hedrig Charlotta, of Stockholm, Captain J. A. Haldengrien, which was on a voyage to Rio. The captain of the brig saw the fire 20 miles off, and at once bore down to it, and seeing the foremast and mainmast gone, but not a human creature about the blazing barque, he thought it his duty to cruise about, in the hope of picking them up. The passengers and crew speak highly of the humane and generous conduct of those on board the Swedish brig j but for the prompt aid which she rendered in bearing down to them, they must, doubtless, have all perished, and they trusted that the English Government would not allow this gallant service to pass unrewarded They were landed at Madeira, and the brig went on to her destination.' The William Brown and her cargo were partially insured at Lloyd's. The loss is estimated at £30,000.— Home News.