BURNING OF A SHIP AT SEA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 978, 27 March 1871, Page 3

BURNING OF A SHIP AT SEA.

•nREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF THE PAS3BNVi GERS AND CtltW. gy a late Cape letter we have intelligence of the following heart rending ac C ount of the sufferings of the passengers of the good ship Vesper Bell, which had only left the parr, about a week before she met with the accident narrated below. The a-cunt is given in a letter to a friend residing in England, by one of the passengers who happily escaped the fearful death which befel so many who had been his companions in misfortune for a short time:— 4 ' We got underweigh at 4 o'clock on the morning 01 the 19th November, with a light breeze from the south-east, and as soon as everything had been made snug I began to turn my thoughts to happy England, and the welcome awaiting me there from the friends I had left for so long a time, little think ina that so sad an accident was so soon toVfal us. There was a general cargo on board, consisting chiefly of cotton, tallow, ivory, &c, which was estimated at the value of about £31.000. There were some eight or nine passengers, and a crew of eighteen, including the officers of the ship. The vessel was barque rigged and 850 tons burthen. We had only been at sea four clays when it was discovered that the ship was on fire. As soon as it became known the Captain ordered all hands to the pumps, and every effort was made to extinguish the flames, which were making rapid progress. It was supposed that the cotton had been stowed away damp, and it was through this that the fire was probably occasioned. You can hardly have any idea of the feelings I experienced on the truth becoming known. I worked with the rest with a will I little thought I pos sessed, hut all our efforts were of no avail. The fire spread rapidly, and in the short space of about twenty-lour hours had gaiued a complete master/. On the sixth day it was found that nothing in the shape of food could be got at, as the flames had unfortunately cut off all communication with the stores. The thirst was dreadful. No bread ! no water 1 It is an awful thing to be without these things at sea, and under such circum stances, and the torture was such as I hope never to experience again. Some of the passengers were raving, and a portion uf the crew openly mutinied. It was at this crisis that the captain paid ail hope was over, and told us to prepare for the worst. I cannot describe my feelings at this moment. All hope of escape gone, as the boats had been smashed in trying to lower them down, and, as far as we knew, no hope of succour. The morning of the seventh day dawned brightly, and about 8 a.m. a vessel was sighted bearing down upon us. I was almost delirious when I saw it. I waved my kerchief, and frantically exclaimed, " Saved ! saved ! " I remember no more. When consciousness returned I found we had been saved by the Nightwatch, a vessel belonging to the Cape and engaged in tlie coasting trade. We were kindly taken care of until our arrival at the Cape again. 1 fhauk God I have escaped. I will write fuller particulars iu my next, as I am so flurried after the sufferings I have endured that I cannot bear to write any more at present. lam sorry to say that four passengers died in their delirium, and that seven sailors were burnt to death in their efforts to extinguish the flames.