FIRE AT SEA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 268, 22 May 1865, Page 2

FIRE AT SEA.

BURNING OF THE FIERY STAR. SUPPOSED LOSS OF LIFE. GALLANT CONDUCT OF CHIEF OFFICER. One of the Black Ball Line of packet ships has been totally destroyed by fire oif the coast of New Zealand. The only survivors known of (18) were taken to Auckland by the ship Dauntless which arrived there on the 15th. She left Moreton Bay outlie Ist April, was south of New Zealand on the 11th. The fire was discovered on the tilth about 4011 miles from Chatham Islands Of six boats belonging to her, two had been destroyed by a heavy sea', and the other four could not possibly hold all that were on board. The chief officer and four men volunteered to remain on board, there were also thirteen boys all left without compass, chart, chronometer or sextant. The captain Having taken all these away, they battened down ' the hatches and made the ship as airlight as possible, and remained on board for three weeks till found by the Dauntless. We quote from Captain Moore’s log:—“ On May 11, in latitude 37 05 8. ami 1,75-42 I£. longitude, my attention was drawn to the report from cannon and the flashing of rockets. ’ I answered her by firing rockets and showing blue lights. I hove the ship to. and a vessel came within speaking distance. She was on fire. The chief officer, Mr. Sargant, spoke us, and told us, the vessel was the ’-'"icry Star, from Moreton Bay to Lon-don,-with tallow, hides, and wool; she had then been on fire 21 da\s. The captain asked me to send oif a boat. I lowered two bouts, and found Mr. Sargant and 17 hands on board ; the captain, purser, mate passengers, and part of the crew having left her three weeks before, taking all the boats, and leaving the firs mate to his fate. The Fiery Star was in a bad state, the foremast being nearly burnt through. I advised Mr. Sargant to stick to her, and I would lay by him till morning as there might bo a chance of getting into harbor with a fair wind. 1 left one of my life-boats with her. Next morning I sent off my second officer and purser. The fire was then getting worse. Mr. Sargant decided to leave the ship, but wished me to come aboard .to give my opinion before doing so. At 10 a.m. I saw the fire was getting much worse, and I therefore thought the best and. only thing was to desert her. We saved what stores we could. The captain pro tern had done all that man could do to save her, and I consider that every praise is due to him. After getting everything we could out finally left her at 4 pm. She was then all in flames. 1 stood by ber till 10’30 p.m., when she went down.” :