BURNING OF THE SHIP LIGHTNING.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 583, 20 November 1869, Page 3

BURNING OF THE SHIP LIGHTNING.

Shortly after two o'clock on the 31st ult., the ship Lightning was discovered to be on fire. In five minutes the firemen were at work, the hose was run aboard, and a stream of water began to pour down on the fire; a hundred such streams, however, would not, it is thought, have had the desired effect. At half-past two, or perhaps a little later, the ship moved away from the wharf, the hose broke. A few minutes afterwards she was brought back again to the wharf, and again did the firemen do their utmost, being assisted by the force-pump belonging to the vessel, and by the three crews, who hauled water up over the side in scores of buckets. At a quarter-past three she was finally hauled away into deep water and an attempt made to scuttle her, the operation being superintended by Captain Jenkins, of the Aboukir. This, however, signally failed. The fire by this time had become almost unbearable, the flames working their way aft with a fierceness that defies description. Still the volunteer firemen and sailors on board persevered. As fast as the stevedore's men engaged below could send up the wool, sails, and furniture, &c, they placed them on board the tug Eesolute, lying alongside. Between 9 and 10 a.m. the burning wreck was standing in the fair-way channel, deserted by everybody. At a quarter to 11 o'clock there was a cry of " There she goes;" the mizen could stand it no longer, and gave an uneasy lurch. Suddenly down it came, bringing what remained of the mainmast with it. The volunteers tried their hands at firing shots into the hull of the vessel, and so scuttling her, but all their efforst were of no avail. At half-past six the scuttlers met with their reward, the hull could be seen visibly sinking,*and in less than five minutes the water rushed through the holes and over the lower portions of the sides. The hull sunk in 27ft of of water, and nothing remained to show that the Lightning has existed but a few burning beams, jutting above the "placid waters of Corio Bay. She was on Saturday considered to be as good a ship as ever, having been lately furnished with newjdeeks, caulked, coppered and fitted with 1500 tunnels along her bilge. On Saturday she had 4600 bales on board, 3000 of these being greasy wool; also, 200 tons of copper ore, a quantity of tallow, and 35 casks of colonial wine, the latter being, we believe, some of Dr Hope's Hermitage. Between 400 and 500 bales were saved, and it is believed that all the wool in the lower hold, nearly 2000 bales, will also be got out. The tallow was not burnt, and the copper and the colonial wine will be recovered. The total loss may be estimated—supposing the wool in the lower hold, &c, to be saved—at £70,000.