THE BURNING OF THE FIERY STAR.

Evening Post, Issue 90, 24 May 1865, Page 2

THE BURNING OF THE FIERY STAR.

FUKTHEK PAHTICULAUS. The following is compiled from the log of Mr. Sargent while on the burning ship :—: — April 21 — Moderate breezes and fine weather. At daylight looked out for the boats, but no sign of them could be seen. Tacked about a little to try to fall in with the boats. Up to this time they had not had a compass to steer the ship bj ; so Mr. Sargent made search in the cabin, and found one. By the strenuous exertions of the men, who now saw clearly that their main chance of life lay in keeping the flre down till either they made the land or fell in with a ship the flre was kept well under. Fortunately the weather at this time was fine ; some hands were employed keeping down the fire* and others in constructing a raft out of spare spars, on which they were determined to commit themselves to the sea should things come to the worst. April 22 — A light breeze and fine weather. Unremitting exertions required to keep the fire under. All hands not at the pumps busy on the raft. Repatched the hole in the side through which the flames first came. Wet blankets were kept on. A man at the masthead looking out, but no sail. In the evening the raft was finished. Had to pump ship for two hours. k , April 23, Sunday — Ship under three lower topsails, with a light breeze. Fire being still, kept under. Mr. Sargent cut several hojtes i& the deck and pumped water down. Brad to burn all the loose fittings about the d^ck to keep the flre up under the Bteam*f>un*~.

.Tutfards afternoon the weather got very dark and gloomy. April 24— Weather threatening. Found that there were three feet of water in the hold, and had to pump ship. Fire still kept down, it haying made no appearance all the night. In the afternoon took the fore hatch off and could see no fire, but found that the foremast was badly burned in the way of the cables. The men could not atop below to get coals for the steam-pump, the smell was so strong. Had to put the hatches on again ; cut away the fore-topsail and royal, and sent down the fore-topgallantsail yards. At midnight the weather was very unsettled and squally, with heavy rain all the night. April 25— A strong breeze and unsettled weather. Still pumping water to keep down the fire, and pumping ship to keep her free. Kept the ship N.E. by E. to get in the track of vessels if possible. Every one on board in good health. Weather somewhat improved, the wind being light, but heavy rain, some of which was caught and saved. During the whole time, from the boats leaving till the men were taken off by the Dauntless, they lived entirely on deck, eating the fowls from the hen-coops. There were ten pigs on board, and their styes having been used to keep up the fire, they ran about the deck, till from heat and want of water they appeared to be quite furious, and the crew had to kill them all in case they should attack them. April 27 — A strong, gale with squalls, and the ship rolling very heavily. April 28 — Weather more moderate. Fire still kept under, but a great deal of steam issuing from below. April 29 — Weather fine. Tried to get below into the cabin, but could not for arsenical gas and steam. Found it impossible to reach the cables. Ship making so much water that she had to be pumped every two hours. April 30— No change from yesterday. Great difficulty in keeping up the steam from want of material to burn. May I— [Thet« ia no entry in the log-book for this day.] May 2— Took fore hatch off to make another attempt to get up some coals. Found great deal of steam and gas, but no smoke below. The men could only work for about two minutes below. Still forced to pump the ship out every two hours. The heat had increased so much that the pitch begun to run out of the seams. May 3 — Weather squally. Cut up one of the booms to make sleepers for the raft. Took the ironwork from the ship to strengthen the raft. Still pumping water below with the steam pump, and pumping ship every two hours. May 4 — Saw two islands, which were supposed to be Mercury and Cuvier IslandsWore ship, and stood to the east. Cut a hole in the deck, and got the hawsers up, but not able to reach the cables, Ship labouring very much under three lower topsails. At midnight a heavy gale, with terrific squalls and rain. May s— Course E.N.E. A strong gale blowing, with a heavy and confused sea ; ship labouring very much. May 6— Course N.N.E. Gale still continuing : ship making a great deal of waterWore ship to S.S.W. At nine am. gale moderated. In the afternoon terrific squalls, with much thunder and lightning. May 7— Course N.N.W., gale continuing, with clear weather. Sea running very high and ship making a great deal of water. May B— Steering N.W., ship labouring very heavily, but fire still under. May 9— A heavy head sea, and ship plunging very much ; took one of the fore-hatches off to get at the coals, but could not stop below to get them. May 10— No change May 11— Strong gale with heavy squalls In the afternoon made the land, bearing W. S.W, distance 26 miles. At 10 p.m. saw a ship on the lee bow. Fired several guns, and showed blue lights. Proved to be the Dauntless for Auckland. Captain Moore sent a life-boat to the ship, and stood by till next morning. May 12— Took fore-hatch off to see if any thing could be done towards putting the fire out, but found the ship getting hotter. Mr. Sargent asked Capt. Moore to come on board, and on examination it was found that the foremast was so badly burned that she could not carry sail on it. Mr Sargent thpii told Capt. Moore that if he would take him on board he would abandon the ship. The whole of the men left the Fiery Star for the DjUMgtiess, just when the flames were beginning to make their appearance up the forehatcu. The Dauntless stood by till 11.30

p.m., when the Fiery Star burned to the water's edge and sank. We give the following list of passengers from a Brisbane paper, but we believe it is not complete : — Saloon : Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, Mrs. H. Bell, Mrs. A. Mackay, Miss Tine, Dr. Plowman, Miss*Dodwell. Second cabin : Miss Russell, Miss Ida Johns, Miss W. Johns, Miss C. Johns, Messrs. D. M'Kay> W. Latour, M. Goddard, J. Robinson, Peter Hartley, jun, Steerage : Mrs. H. Murphy, Messrs. Steit, F. Omand, G. A. Dargan, Boughton, Immerchundt, E. Edwards, J. Plumb, A. H. Watson, C. Messenger, P. England, A. Hopper, A . Landoff, W. Beal, Rev. W. Rikey and Master Christian. The following are the names of the men picked up by the Dauntless : — Mr. John Ormond, passenger ; Mr. Sargent, chief officer ; William Marshall, quarter-master ; George Maber, engineer ; George Strickland, chief steward ; Charles White, boatswain's mate ; David Hariot, sailmaker ; James North, carpenter ; Knight Stevens, Charles Applequist, John Hargett, Charles Smith, David Payne, John Bullin, Richard Breton, seamen ; Richard Herdman, butcher.