BURNING OF A SHIP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1257, 2 April 1886, Page 3

BURNING OF A SHIP.

(' Stair’s* Melbourne correspondent.) The burning of the ship Paul Jones caused inlenso oxoitemeur, in Melbourne. For some hours the name of the burning vessel was unknown. At one time it was fearel that it was the Orient liner Liguria, from Loudon, which had been signalled from Cape Otway. Tha Paul Jones was bound to Calcutta. She had been only three days at sea when the lire was discovered. Both the Melbourne papers contain graphic accounts of the disaster the narratives of the officers and crew covering columns of space. The most interesting is from lloluf. one of _tho crew, who says Soon after the cap‘tain went to dinner I had oco.sion to go alongside the man at the wheel, who said “ There’s smoke coming up about here.” I first thonght that it might he the captain having a pipe, but the smell _ and the increased volume of smoke convinced me that the ship was on fire. 1 therefore gave the alarm, and the second mate at once called up the captain and chief mate. Some of the

crew ( who were still /in bed to be aroused.'' There was great excitement among the men for a few moments, but the coolness of the captain ami officers inspired all with confidence, an i we speedily endeavoured to quell the flames. Wo’poured backets of water into the lazarette, where the> fire seems to have started, add the force pump was also brought to bear ; but the smoke was.so thick and stifling that we could not get at the seat of the Are.' Bach time that the hatch was lifted clouds of smoke and flame belched forth, singeing our hair, whiskers, and eyebrows, and burning our faces and hands. It soon became evident that the fire had gained the mastery, and that the ship was doomed to destruction. We could not overpower the flames, for the oil which was stored in the lazarette was all ablaze. There was a barrel of| linseed and boiled oil and a large quantity of paraffin ell for the lamps. When the fire took hold of this the heat became intense and the fumes perfectly suffocating. Pitch oozed from between the deck planks, and quickly the whole of.the vessel, aft was one mass of flame. Captain Winn saw that it was hopelesss case, and the boats were lowered hurriedly, provianned, and most of the men’s things tumbled into them. We were prevented from saving all by the dense smoke, which made it very risky to go below. In spite of the efforts of the captain an the men working at the pumps, the fire steadily gained ground, driving them further forward. Still they fought the flames; but, b- fore long, the men were compelled to take to the boats. At last the captain and chief male were the -only ones left on board. Both had had shown tho greatest courage, and so eager was Captain Winn to save his ship that he neglected to save anything except the chronometers. Charts and books the accumulation of a lifetime, and all his clothes were utterly destroyed. The captain was determined not to leave the ship till he was driven from her. “Is every man aboard safe?” shouted the captain aboveths roaring of the flames. "Aye, aye, sir,” was the ready response ; but not until he had been reassured that there was not a single man left would he quit the vessel. We pulled towards the ship Antiope, from London which was making for us. We were taken aboard and treated with great kindness. Bor a long time we could see the flames and smoke from the burning vessel. It was an awfully magnificent spectacle. The sky above was blood-red, ami the sea illuminated for miles around. I have had some startling experiences in the course of my seafaring life, but the destination of the Paul Jones eclipsed them all.” The burning ship was Subsequently passed by the Liguria, and eventually scuttled by the steamer Despatch sent by the Government to render assistance.