BURNING OF THE SHIP NAJADEN.—RESCUE OF THE CREW.

Evening Post, Issue 46, 1 April 1865, Page 3

BURNING OF THE SHIP NAJADEN.—RESCUE OF THE CREW.

The ship Trenton put into Table Bay on Wednesday to land the crew of the Danish ship Najaden, which was totally destroyed by fire. The following are the particulars ;— " The ship Najaden, belonging to Messrs Puggard and Co., of Copenhagen, left that place on the 30th August last, with a cargo of coals, oakum, and oats for Port Louis, Mauritius ; had very contrary and variable winds from the southward and westward with heavy gales. The wind continually keeping to the westward, I intended to run for Falmouth on the 18th September, and left that place on the 22nd with a S.W. wind to proceed on my voyage. Nothing remarkable occurred until the evening of the 15th November at about half-past nine p.m., when the first officer and one of the men observed thick smoke escaping from the ventilator to the forehold. I had the forehatch opened from whence there proceeded a dense cloud of smoke. The first mate then called me on deck, and we went down in the forehold to see if any fire could be discovered, but in vaiu. All hands were then called on deck to pass up the oakum, thinking that the fire might have its place there ; but not finding it, we commenced to examine her coal as far as could be done, and it was found that the coals were quite hot under the main hatch. Thinking that the coals had taken fire, I assembled officers and crew to consider the matter at 11.12 p.m, and agreed to keep her off for Rio, that being the nearest port, if possible to save the ship and lives— the latitude at that time being 25-50 S., longitude 2110 W. After having made all possible sari, we found the smoke still ascending at four p.m. on the 16th November. All hands were set to work to get up provisions, which was done with great difficulty, owing to the smoke and gas which was so stifling that no man could stop longer than three minutes in the hold without being exhausted. After having got up enough provisions to last fourteen days, we put on the hatches, and battened everything down. The two following days we had nothing but calms. < n the 18th November, at three p.m., observed a ship. We hoisted flags of distress, and commenced signalising to her. The ship proved to be the Trenton, Captain Walker, from Liverpool to Bombay. After this I hoisted the signal, " I am on fire, and I want immediate assistance." He lowered his boats and sent his mate alongside to inquire what I wanted. I explained to him my dangerous position, and he went to communicate with the captain. He then remained with us. I then consulted my crew. I went on board, and Captain Walker sent his mate to pass his opinion on our dangerous position ; but he had no sooner broke down into the forehold and after-hatch than he came up with the expression, " Captain you are walking on the top of a mine." I consulted the crew again, and we all agreed to accept Captain Walker's offer and abandon the ship. The mate of the Trenton then left the ship, and we kept under her lee. Meantime the fire obtained progress. On the morning of the 21st, the heat reached 40deg. Fahrenheit, which was observed through a little scuttle in the after-hatch. I now became afraid of an explosion, and there being no hope of bringing the ship into any port, we all agreed to leave her. I signalled the Trenton for assistance, which immediately was sent. Our own luggage and some of the ship's inventory •were taken on board tfie Trenton at three p.m. I sent nearly all the crew on board and opened all the hatches, if possible to find the whereabouts the fire had its place, and found it, as far I could judge, on the fore part of the main hatch on the port ride. The smoke commenced to ascend in the shape of a white pillar. I left the Najaden, accompanied by my officers and one of the men to go on board the Tren-

ton. In the evening, about eight o'clock a dense white smoke ascended from the fore-hold, which was the last I saw of her. On the 22nd of November, at half-past eleven p.m., I saw a very bright light in the horizon, appearing somewhat like a great conflagration, and bearing about N. by E. I ascended the rigging on. board the Trenton, and observed the flames to and fro were quite visible ; and there can be no doubt that it must have been the Najaden burning. Course and distance run out by the ship Trenton since we left the burning ship, was 2929 W. ; distance, 38 miles." Great praise is due to Captain Walker, of the Trenton, for the manner in which he treated the captain and crew during their stay on board.— Port Elizabeth Telegraph, Dec. 29.

a new process of weaving, by means of compressed air, is being privately exhibited in London and is well thought of. The great International Exhibition building will be finally swept away immediately after Monday, Jan. 23, on which day the remaining materials are to be sold by auction on the spot. Ten million cigars were landed at South ampton last week, the \alue of which abou £200,000.