SHIPPING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 4254, 3 July 1895, Page 5

SHIPPING.

BURNT AT SEA. Some few weeks ago intelligence was received by cable of the burning of the ship Salsette while on a voyage from London to Melbourne with a valuable cargo. Fortunately the ship's company escaped, and, in letters just received by friends in Melbourne, give interesting descriptions of the burning of the ship at sea. From the log book kept by the one passenger carried on board, an extract from which has been sent to Mrs Moore, of the Sailors' Rest, it would seem that it was when the Salsette was in latitude 16deg6min S., longitude 24deg W., that the fire was first discovered. About seven o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, 17th April, the alarm was raised, and directions were at once given to jettison a quantity of gunpowder carried in the main hold. Every man worked for very life, and in less than half an hour the powder had been thrown overboard. The fire was supposed to have originated by the heating of sonic tobacco stored in the lower main hold, and a party went down the fore lower hold with the hope of extinguishing the fire. They saw sparks, and heard the cracking of burning materials, but were forced by blinding clouds of smoke to beat a hasty retreat. The hatches were then battened down, and after breakfast the boats were got out, provisioned and watered, and made ready. At 4.30 tbe vessel was headed towards Trinidad in a direct course for the track of steamers to and from the River Plate and also of outward bound vessels. Meanwhile gallant efforts had been made to get at the seat of the fire. All the men were overcome by the fumes, and the third mate was twice handed up in an insensible condition, but soon recovered. All that night and the following morning dense volumes of smoke came through the crevices in the deck, and the noise of the cargo falling from the sides into the cavity made by the devastating flames could be plainly heard. Still officers, crew, and passenger clung to the vessel, and at three o'clock that afternoon a shout went up from the man on the look-out: "Sail on the starboard beam." Never was tho cry more welcome. Efforts were made to attract the passing vessel's attention, and to the delight of all on board tiie burning ship the stranger was seen to be standing towards them. She proved to be the Miltiades (Captain Ayling), bound from Barry to Port Pirie, and her master consented to stand by. About 8 o'clock p.m. the work of transfer was commenced, and the last boat left the doomed ship at midnight. Prior to the last boat leaving the hatches were opened. Dense clouds of smoke, followed by tongues of flame, which leapt at once above the deckhouse, appeared, and the captain, who was the last to leave, ordered all into the boat. The Miltiades was reached half an hour later, and from her deck the crew watched the flames leap higher and higher, till foremast and mainmast had disappeared and the vessel was enveloped in flames. The mizzenmast, however, was still standing when the rescuing ship lost sight of the Salsette.