FIRE AND SHIPWRECK.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7062, 13 July 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRE AND SHIPWRECK.

(Per United Press Association.) Bldvf', Jaly6. By tbe arrival of the Janet Barnes? to-ciay, we have tbe following particulars ra t.he wreck on the Auckland Islands of the iarque Compadre, an iron vessel of 800 tons roister. , She was bound from Calcutta to Talecfeuna, Chili, with a cargo of bags. The mode's statement is that she lellt Calcutta on tbe 22nd January, and that all went well till (be 16th March, when fire was discovered by tbe captain in the after hold. He instantly called all hands to proceed to master the fire. Holes were oat in the cabin deck, and water was poured incessantly from 10 am to 6pm. Finding it impossible to extinguish the fire they battened all down, and shaped a course for the Bluff, it being the nearest port. Several men tried to obtain bread from below, but were rendered iv sensible, and had to be carried on deck- They made their way till the night of the 18th March, when it

blew a heavy westerly gale accompanied with terrific squalls. At 7 a.m on the 19th March land was discerned on the starboard how. distant about 12 miles, it being very hazy at the time, and through the wiod being abeam and owing to the fearful sea, the vessel labored heavily. One tremendous sea swept the ship, and the foresail and the topmast staysail were carried out of the bolt ropes, the sea also bursting the forecastle ports, smashing the scuttle and fore hatches, and sweep- ] ing the decks of everything moveable, as well as burating in the cabin, thus giving air to the fire, which cou'd not be prevented. Though immense quantities of water flooded in, the men coald not man the pumps, they being continually washed away. The carpenter sounded the well, and found eight feet of water in the hold. By this time the ship was to the windward of the north cape of the Auckland Islands. Giving up all hope of saving the vessel, which was rapidly sinking underfoot, and being unable to lower the boats in such a sea, they squared the mainyard and steered towards the rocks, in the hope of saving life. Previous to striking they poured oil on the water over the stern, which greatly reduced the violence of the sea. All hands got on the jibboom, and when the vessel struck there was a great crash, everyone making a jump for the rocks, some being much bruised. In ten minutes from the time they landed, nothing but loose wreckage was to be seen. The crew saffsred severely from want of food, clothing, and rest. The depot was then discovered, and the sealer Janet Eamsay picked up tbe crew. The castaways were 103 daya on land. The crew consists of Captain J) Jonep, F Bath mate, F Cox second mate, E A Roberts, J R Clarkson apprentices, H Roberts, E Stewart, H English carpenterß, F Woods, J Harding, D Black, F F Wright, F Englem 4. Blubler, John Munnock, and H Brownett, A.B.'s. Peter Nelßon, an A.B, was lost in the bush, and though a thorough search wa3 made for him no trace could te found. This is the only one of the crew missing. The survivors were taken off the Aucklands by the sealing schooner Janet Ramsay on Monday last, and landed at the Bluff to-day. '.> hey express great gratitude for the kindness shown them by the captain and crew of the Juliet Hamsuy, who supplied them with food and other necessaries. Invehcabgill, July 9. The enquiry into the loss of the barque Compadre was finished to-night, the Court finding that the wrack was primarily caused by the disoovery of fire having compelled the captain to alter his course and make for a New Zealand port ; that the gale from the north-west drove the vessel on the Auckland Islands; and that ths small amount of canvas she could carry and the quantity of water in the hold made it impossible to keep her off tbe shore or clear of the Inlands ; that the vessel was beached to save life. Captain Jones and the r fficers were found blameless in the matter, the Court expressing an opinion that they bad dene all that was possible to save the vessel. A witness named Woods, an A.B , asserted that the muster, who had been in the lazaretteon the morning the fire was discovered by him t.-iking an inventory of the effects of an apprentice v?bo had run away at Buenos Ayres, had admitted that he had dropped candles between a case and some gunnies, and had asked him and others to say nothing about it. This alleged remark was not corroborated, and Black, a seaman that Wood had said could give similar evidence, said on the contrary, that the fire originated about 35 feet from the lazarette, and in a place where there was not room for a man to reach. Captain Jones admitted that he had a candle with him, and left it in a candlestick on the bread tank, when he noticed smoke, and he hurried on deck to give the alarm. He further stated that he had never heard of Wood's story about a candle being dropped between bales until on board the Janet Ramsay, when Wood came to him and hinted that he and Black would clear out of the way when they got to New Zealand if he made it worth their while. The captain at once informed the second officer of Wood's remarks.