BURNING OF THE S.S. CITY OF MONTREAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7964, 7 September 1887, Page 4

BURNING OF THE S.S. CITY OF MONTREAL.

MANY PAINFUL SCENES.

Fuller particulars have reached us respecting th» burning of -the Inman s.s. Oity of Montreal on the night of August 16th, while on the voyage from New ' York to Queenstown. The fire originated * amongst the ootton in the after main hold. -Immediately it was discovered, a coarse was shaped for Newfoundland. The pasBengers, vho were in their bunks, dressed, and quiokiy ascended to the deck. The word was passed round that it was impossible to save the ship.- There was a momentary panio, but order was soon restored. The lifeboats and pinnaces were lauuohed and provisioned, and when morning dawned the passengers were marshalled on deok. Some were weeping, soaio were praying aloudj others were apparently quite oomposed. Fathers and mothers gathered their ohildren around them, and there were many pitiful scenes. A heavy sea was running at tho time. Those on board/numhering 222, were saved. They, were resoued by the barque York City, and landed at Queenstown. The oassengors speak of tho noble way in whioh, with unflinohing aeal and skill, the officers of the steamer stuok to their pOßts, calming the passengers' fears, and preventing a panic .which -at, such a, time would have involved even greater disaster. The officers are suffering from temporary blindness, the result of dense smoke. Tbe ohief officer was tot* lly blind for two days. The Rev. Mr. Donaldson, late of Adelaide, who was a passenger, states that the boat containing thirteen persona (sinoe picked up) waa not broken, as at first reported, but drifted away. Mr. Donaldson accuses the ocoapants of the missing boat of cowardice, in leaving the City of Montreal when half loaded, in their anxiety to get clear of the steamer.