Untitled

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1745, 20 January 1888, Page 2

SERIOUS CHARGES.

(Per Press Association.)

- . Stonct, Jannary 19 The survivors of the American ship J. T. Berry arrived here to-day; T hey complain bitterley of the ill-treatment received by the crew oi the ill-fated vessel at the hands of the captain and chief officer. They assert that the men who are now missing were cruelly abandoned to their fate. It appears that before the fire occurred a member of the ship's company had been engaged below painting tanks, which necessitated his using'- a light, ' and there may possibly be some connection between this circumstance and the origin of the fire. When the fire was first discovered, and be/ore it had assumed any dimensions, the starboard boat was hurriedly launched, the survivors entered it and cut the painter, leaving the port boat for the remainder of the crew. The explosion which tore up the docks had not then^occurred, but the fire had enveloped the port boat, and rendered it useless. Moreover it was not possible at any time after the outbreak of the fire to launch it, owing to the intense heat, so that it is believed that the : other unfortunates never left the ship but perished with her. The fact that the captain and first mate were m the same boat is already unfavorably com mented on.