AN IMMIGRANT SHIP ON FIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 9

AN IMMIGRANT SHIP ON FIRE.

(Per Special Wire.) A Narrow Escape prom Total Destruction ON THE HKH? SEAS. Christchorch, January 20th. The following particulars of the ship Piako's eventful voyage have been obtained from th« New Zealand Shipping Company :— 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 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 October 11th, under command of Captain W. B. Boyd, being well officered, manned, and eqUipned. Besides a cargo of about 1050 tons, she had 288 emigrants on board. The earlier part of the voyage was une.ventf ul. The ship made a splendid run, and on November 11th was in about 7deg. S., longitude 32deg. W., or less than 200 miles from Peroambuco. At 10.45 a.m. on that day, Captain Boyd has just, left the deck, and was in his cabin making an entry jn his official log. when Mr Holbeck, 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 of 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 20 feet abaft the foremost tier of cargo. At once the hose was' brought .to play on it under the direction of the sscond officer, Mr Hazlewood. The captain then ran on decw to' get the carpenter to cut a thole in the 'tween-decks over the flame. He |was only absent two minutes, but, on hia t return huge folumes of black sulphurous smeke 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 then tripd.togpt through Dvthe marrld people's compartment, but he and his volunteers were driven "buck almost stifled. All the hitches were then closed, and als,o the scuppers, and the master hud the maindeck flooded, the two engines playing down the forebatch and holes cut in the upper-deck, and the don-key-engine playing down the air-shaft. Captaiß Boyd at this time altered the ship's course to make Pernsmbuco. . 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, buteVen from the after store-room thY hands were driven back by the fire, and that had to be battened down too. About 2 p.m.', most providentially,' a barqua was sighted on the weather bow, and Captain. Boyd made signals of distress, and bore up t < her. . The vessel proved to be the loch Doon, bound from San' Francisco to Cork. .At 3 p.m. Captain Boyd commenced the transhipment of his passengers, which was happily accomplished m two hours; without the slightest accident. Of course, now that all, danger of the laoriflca of human

life was past, Captain Boyd's chief anxiety was over, but, having done his duty by the pawMigar?, ho was loth to neglect the further heavy interests confided to him, and determined not to abandon his chip and cargo it 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 they did) stick to the ship, and right manfully they worked, never leaving the pumps till 4 pm. on the 13ih, when the ship reached Pernambuco Roads. The Loch Doon followed her, and reached there a few hours afterwards. The origin of the fire had not then been ascertained : every regulation had been carefully observed, and tho captain is certain no one could have got below. Immediately on bis arrival at Pernambuco, Captain Boyrt waited on H.B.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 (Ilba de Moqueria), where a latge house and outbuildings were available. The Consul w« unwilling to supply clothing, but Captain Boyd 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 smokid? and blazing; up to the moment wh«n 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 December 29th. She may be ex- . pected here about' February 14th or 15th next. A perusal of Captain Boyd'd simple narrative of tho accide it lewes the impression that he acted wiib 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 men, is to be attributed the happy result that no lives have been lost, and though the cargo must all be more or legs damaged, the ship has been saved. (Per Special Wire.) The Agent General advises the Government, that immediately on learning of the Piako's disaster at Pernambuco, he placed himself in .communication with the Foreign Office, and was permitted to communicate with the British Consul, who received instructions to do all he was asked. Being informed that the ship would take a month to repair, and that the emigrants feared an outbreak of smallpox or yellow fever, he instructed tho Consul to make arrangements for their return by steamer to England, • Two companies made offers, and he approved of that of the Royal Mail Co. for L 1750 for thelot. The New Zealand Shipping Co. protested that the ship was practically uninjured ; that they had chartered the Alice to go out with provisions, clothes, &c, for the emigrants j that they were all living in roomy buildings on the island in the harbour, where separation and discipline were as well maintained as on 1 board the ship; that no interference should take place unless disease actually appeared, and that taking the passengers back to England would seriously prejudice the claims* of the Company against the underwriters. To this Sir Julius replied that he did not think it , necessary to wait till disease actually broke 1 out, and here tha correspondence ceased, - The Royal Mail steamer was to'leave Pernambuco on the day after the mail left Home, 1 and those of the Piako passengers who wished had the option of returning to England.