SHIPS ON FIRE AT SEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 2742, 15 January 1878, Page 2

SHIPS ON FIRE AT SEA.

A few months ago public credulity was taxed to a great degree by a story brought from the Society Islands that the abandoned coal-laden ship Ada Iredale had drifted into Tahiti, still smoking, after floating about at sea for nearly nine months in a burning condition. There were not wanting several who declined to believe that a ship could remain on fire for such a long period. But another exactly similar case, except that the nine months is increased to ten months, was reported at Lloyds early in October. The following is a paragraph referring to the incident, taken from the Daily News: — " Information received from Lloyds states that the Peninsular and Oriental mail steamer Hindostan arrived at Suez from China, reports that on the night of the 17th of September, two days before reaching Aden, she boarded a vessel which had apparently been abandoned on fire, probably some weeks previously. She was completely gutted, but the coal was still smouldering in her hold. Sho was identified as the Teviotdale, of Glasgow, by the official number aud registered tonnage marked on the main hatch beam. The iron ship Teviotdale, bound from Cardiff to India, with a cargo of coals, waß abandoned on fire on the Ist November, 1876 in lat. 11 deg. south, long. 70 deg. east, near Mauritius, and has drifted about 2000 miles in about tea months. The crew were picked up soon after abandoning the vessel."