THE COSPATRICK CATASTROPHE.

Evening Star, Issue 3774, 30 March 1875, Page 2

THE COSPATRICK CATASTROPHE.

The Board of Trade inquiry into the burning of the Cospatrick was held at Greenwich on February 3, and five counsel appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade, the Crown, and owners. In opening the case, Mr Cohen, representating the Board of Trade, dwelt upon the singular rapidity with which the fire spread, the absence of all preparation for using the boats, and also the bouts leaving the ship without oars, masts, or provisions. The Clerk of Customs, the first witness, proved that the Cospatrick had 1,732 gallons of linseed oil and 2,551 gallons of s, irits aboard. M‘Donald, the second mate, deposed that the fire originated xu the boatswain’s locker, where pitch, tar, &c., for the ship’s use were kept. Twenty tons of coal, oils, and turpentine also were stowed in the fore part of the ship in close proximity to fc he lockers. He was asked what was the color of the smoke when the fire first broke out, and replit d that he did not know. He had no time to look. They were running about like wild meu. It was impossible to extinguish the fire. Abundance of water was thrown on the place where the fire was. All the boats except the port lifeboat and the starboard quarter boat (which capsized in lowering with eighty women in it) were burnt on deck. The starboard boat was afterwards righted by men clinging to u floating mast. Only two hours elapsed from the discovery of the fire till the raizenmast fell. Everything possible was done to save the ship, During ail the confusion the captain was perfectly culm. It was too late to provision the boats while launching them, in the port boat was a whole sheep, which was out to take in a man from the sea. ihe captain went to the wheel and remained there till the end, wheu he called out every man for himself. The boats could not hold more than two bundled. He believed the fire extended from tha boatswain’s looker to the cargo. It was the liquor that blew the stern out. Ho did not think the emigrants could have got at the liquor in the boatswain’s locker. Counsel Williams said that theNewZealand Government had paid L 5,183 for the emigrants’ passages. Lewis and Cotter gave simi-

lar evidence, and the latter said that men were constantly sent down into the boatswain’s looker to fetch tar and rope up. When he went he always took a covered oil lamp, hen oil was wanted the tin was brought out He wm certain the fire origiated in the locker. He smelt tar and rope burning. The Board’s decision is not known.—* Daily Times.’