THE BURNING OF THE SHANGHAI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9042, 18 February 1891, Page 4

THE BURNING OF THE SHANGHAI.

SEVEBAL HUNDRED LIVES LOST.

The Airlie, which has arrived afc Sydney from Hong Kong, brings Eastern files containing a full account of the burning of the steamer Shanghai.

The steamer was bound for Chinkiang, with over 400 Chinese and one European passenger, Mr Kniffler, on board, and when about six miles below the mud fort smoke waß discovered coming out of the after hold, in which was stowed, amongst other cargo, a quantity of cotton. The second mate immediately got the fire-pumps to work, and Captain Martin was informed of what had happened. In the meantime the hose was played od the main hold hatch, bufc all of a sodden the batches gave way and an immense volume of: dense black smoko shot up, which made ifc impossible for the second officer to remain there any longer. Hethen started to go forward, but found the Chinese a panic-stricken, seething mass of humanity struggling vainly to get to a place of safety. He could not get through them, and therefore crawled along outside tbe ship, and thus got to hi 3 destination. As soon as Captain Martin saw that there was no means of getting the fire under he headed the steamer for tho bank of the river, and ran her so violently ashore that her bow was right up the bank. Under ordinary circumstances this would have given greater facilities for escape, bnt the Bhip was in flames from stem to stern in less than 15 minutes from the time of tho alarm being given, and the Chinese were in such a confused mats in the alley-ways that they conld not get forward to escape. Many jumped overboard and were drowned, while others were burnt to death. The foreigners were able to get ashore, Captain Martin and one of the pilots being tho last to leave the vessel. Mr Kniffler waded ashore, and when he landed he was attacked by the villagers, who attempted to strip him of his clothing. The Chinese passengers who succeeded in reaching the shore were similarly attacked and stripped of their clothing. The Chinese Mandarin gunboat and a steam launch which were near at hand made no attempt to save anyone, bnt lhe crews contented themselves with picking np the things that floated from the burning steamer. The number of lives lost will never be actually known, but of tha number who were on board afc Chinkiang only some 65 were accounted for. Some of the passengers, however, when they got clear of the vessel, hurried away from the scene as quickly as possible, being apparently afraid of being robbed or ill-treated by the villagers. A foreigner counted 75 dead bodies on fche bank of the river, and he saw a drag boat recover 16 mere. Many of course were burnt, so that the number of deaths is probably between 200 and 300.