LOSS OF THE "ST. GEORGE," EMIGRANT SHIP, BY FIRE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 120, 28 July 1853, Page 2

LOSS OF THE "ST. GEORGE," EMIGRANT SHIP, BY FIRE.

(From the "Weekly Dispatch.")

The fate of the unhappy creatures left on board the burning wreek of the St. George emigrant ship, which took fire on Christmas eve, while on a voyage from Liverpool to New York, as noticed in this journal, has excited the most painful interest. From circumstances which have transpired since the fust announcement of the melancholy disaster, there is little doubt Hint the whole of them perished, either from burning or drowning, making in the whole the large number of 31 souls who lost their lives.— The Orlando, it will bo recollected, succeeded in taking oil the survivors from the blazing ship anil reached Havre with them, where llioy were landed. Their report of the ca

tastrnphe nioiilfoncil Mint several liail licen left on board the wreck, ami by a subsequent notice wliirli appeared in Llovd's List, lo tliu effect thai Mie Gazrll; wliirli had arrived in the Thames, had overtaken Mm ship Kenmjbuiik, which was roiiiiing bark from Havre with a number of emigrants slid had taken off the .SV. George, an impression was entertained that a second vessel had sighted the burning ship, and had succeeded in reselling the unhappy souls who had been led on board. On enquiries being instituted, however, it was ascertained that the vessel which the Gazelle had noticed was really the Orlando, and the name, of her owner, " Kennybunk," bail been mistaken for thai of her own. This explanation left little hope of the poor creatures being preserved. The St. Grnrge, having been an American ship, not much is known of her at Lloyd's, nor was our informant able lo glean any particulars at the ollico of the Government Emigration GiiiuinissioiKTS in Westminster, the ill-fated vessel not having been chartered by them. Private ciuigi ant ships are inspected, we believe, by duly appointed ollicers at the ports from which they depart ; but there does not seem to beany return made to headquarters of the character and number of passengers such vessels have on board. All that is known of the deplorable event is, that on the. '2 lib of November the St. George left Liverpool for New Yorh, with a crew of 25 hands and IZI emigrants, comprising men, women and children, mostly Irish, and of the poorer class. In addition lo her stores, she bad a general cargo, amongst which, as we are informed, was ,-i quantity of iiaplli.i and oil, lo the escape of which, in all probability, may be attributed the terrible loss. In endeavouring to make her way across the Atlantic, she encountered most formidable weather, and after being bulleled about for j a month, on the v 2ilb of llecnnher she was discovered to be on (ire. The dense bodies I of smoke which came up her hatchways 100 clearly indicated that some inllaiumable material bad ignited ; and, as the lire extended, a most frightful scene of excitement prevailed amongst the emigrants. A gale of wind sprung up, and all were seized with horror and dismay, and in a slate not much unlike those who were on board the ill-fated Ainuson. After some bonis of dreadful suspense, tin; Orlando, .Mr. White, commander, came in sight, and with ,1 due regard for the safety of his own vessel, immediately adopted what measures he could for preserving the unhappy creatures who were crying lor help. The Orlando having just previously experienced a heavy galeofwiud, which hail carried away ' her boats and sails, some difficulty was experienced in communicating with the Si. George. The latter had only one boat left that was of a small si/.e, ami most painful fears were entertained lest she should be dashed to pieces against the side of either fhip, or be swamped by the fearful sea which was running. At length the boat was got down, and in order to avoid being struck against the side of the vessel, the emigrants, one after another (at least those who were saved), jumped into the sea. mid were picked up. This hazardous task occupied mo c than twenty hours; the Orlando held by for that time; the boat passed lo and fro sixtyfour limes, ami sescued seventy-six of the passengers and sonic of the crew. Why the remainder of Mie poor creatures could not he got off has not been satisfactorily explained. It is slated thai iwcnly-six were left behind on board the blazing wreck, Miat eight were .suffocated by the vast body of smoke which was poured up from the hold, and that seventeen were drowned. Considering the character of the weather, bowever, and the position of the two ships, it is most marvellous that so many of the emigrants were, saved. A list o( those who perished has not yet come to hand, but it is represented to include fathers and mothers in the deplorable loss. Had the weather been moderate, Mie Orlando, by going nearer alongside, might have preserved more of the unfortunate beings. The violence of the elements, however, prevented such being done, and niiicb honour is due lo the master and crew of the Orlando for Mie humanity and daring interpidily displayed on the occasion, Altogether they hovered about the blazing ship for 30 hours. She was on lire in every part, and when they lost sight of her she apparently would go down in a short time. The Orlando Mien made for the , channel, and, as before announced, reached , Havre, where the survivors were, lauded. ! Their condition was the most painful, and [ excited much sympathy. They had lost the little they had in Mie world, and many had to lament Mie loss of some dear relative. The authorities at Havre exerted themselves very nobly towards alleviating ibe sufferings o/ the poor crealures, anil as much as 300/. or 400/. was speedily collected on their behalf.