BURNING OF A STEAMSHIP.

Kumara Times, Issue 1417, 18 April 1881, Page 2

BURNING OF A STEAMSHIP.

Intelligence of a fearful disaster that occurred in December, in Japanese waters, was received at Plymouth on February 3rd. The steamship Toyokuni Maru has been burnt on a voyage from Osaka to Shiraonoseki, and 64 persons have perished. The Hiogo News has the following respecting the affair :—The owner and a large number of passengers were on board, and everything presaged a pleasant run. While the steamer was crossing the Idzuminada, an alarm of fire was raised. Terrible confusion at once ensued, and as the conflagration was in the coal bunkers, nothing could be done to extinguish it. The solitary boat was

made fa3t over the position of the fire, and could not be cleared away, so thato the wretched passengers were without any means of escape; lifebuoys not even being part df the vessel's equipment; Owing to the heat below, it was impossible to get at the' engines to Btop themj and the flames soon reaching the boilers* caused the steamer to be propelled through the water at terrific speed. At length, owing, it is supposed, to the intense heat injuring some portion of the machinery, the Toyokdni Marii suddenly stopped, and the pursuing steamer was enabled to close up. A btiat was immediately lowered and tfowed as ndar the burning ship as the" flames woiild allowi Eighteen meii were found td be* hanging over the" vessel's side, clinging to ropes, and these 1 were the sold survivors of eightytwo persons* who a few hours previously werd anticipating a speedy rdtUrn td friends, relatives, parents, or children. The Owner and captain of the Toyokuni Marii have both perished, and, ther& fore, we refrain from commenting uppii their conduct, but we assert that' this frightful calamity demands from thd Government rigid inquiry.