LOSS OF THE SHIP BLUE JACKET, BY FIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 131, 7 June 1869, Page 2

LOSS OF THE SHIP BLUE JACKET, BY FIRE.

TFrom ihe Argus, May 22. „ Captain White's account of the loss of the Blue Jacket by fire, which is supposed to have originated amongst some damp wool, is as follows : — Oo March 9, at half-past 1 p.m., in lat. 50 deg. 26 min. S. end long. 46 deg. 5S min. W. (wind W.N.W.), smoke was observed issuing from tbe forehatch ; had the forehatch opened, and started both fireengines with crew and passengers. After pumping some two hours and a half, we seemed to get the better of the fire, and made an attempt to break out and put overboard the burnt bales, but could not succeed, the flames bursting out with greater fierceness. We again closed the hatch, and kept the engine going ; then had the first cutter got out, the two lifeboats having been previously got ready, with water, provisions, &c, in them. We hoped to remain on board till morning, but such was not our lot. The men working the engines could not stand the great heat, and had to leave at ten p.m. The flames by this time had reached . the topgallant forecastle, and rushed up the foresail and forestays. Before this we had got the ladies aud all passengers on board the cutter. The fire still raged with unabated fury when, we left at half-past ten p.ra. The foremast went over the side about half an hour after we left the ship. Tha mast being made of iron, the fire rushed through the tube, making it red-hot, and burning all forward. The flames then rushed Up the mainstays, setting everything on that mast on fire as rapidly as if by electricity almost. The ship was hove- to on the starboard tack, drifting to the S.E. Soon after the mizenmast took fire, but both it and the mainmast held on until morning, when we saw no more of them, the fire still doing fearful destruction. Our boats, three in number, were lying close by at the time; the crew beiug ia the two lifeboats; myself and chief officer, with six of the crew and all the passengers, in the cutler. Mr. W. J. Bell, second officer, was in charge of one of the lifeboats, while Mr. Webber, third officer, was in charge of the other. They both had strict orders to follow and keep company with the cutter. We kept company for two days, working our way to the westward, and bnrning rockets and lights all night. On Thursday morning, March 11, they came up as usual. Mr. Bell, the second officer, asked if I could take two seamen out of his boat, as she was leaking. I told him I could not, because at that time, I had thirty-seven people in the boat, but I requested him to stay by me. There was a heavy sea on at the time and he ran to leeward. After this the third officer's boat came up, and asked where Bell, the second officer, ;was. We told them not to rua ahead, but to keep by us, and that the course^ was W.S.W. He also raa to leeward, aad both lifeboatu

•came together, runniug well free. We Jost sight of them during the afternoon. Before suuset we ran down to see if anything could be seen of them; a man was ■sent to the masthead, but he could not see them. We also sent up a rocket at 8 p.m., but there was no response, although they 'had rockets ou board both boats. I have omitted to say that each boat had a box of gold by way of ballast. I have seen nothing of tbe boat since. Eor five days out' of the seven we were in the boats strong westerly winds aud gales prevailed, •the sea running very high all the time we were in our little frail barque-. At halfpast five, ou the morning of March 16, in latitude SOJeg. 55min. S., and longitude -53deg. s lmin. W., a sail hove iu sight ruuning down upou us. She proved to be the barque Pyrmont, o'f Hamburg, 'Captain Nicumayer, bound from Iquique to Falmouth for orders. The captain ■very kindly took us all on board, and :gave us all the hospitality he <possibly •could under the circumstances. The same day we were picked up, aud soou after we had been takeu on board, Mr. Farrington, the fourth mate, Mr. Ellis, a second -class passenger, and Thomas Apsey, the third steward, died from the exhaustion -and exposure they had undergone. It was .a great miracle that more of us 3.01 aioti die, considering that for the seven days we -were iu the boat our allowance was two tablespnonfuls of water, and one of soup per day. I cannot speak too highly in •praise of the captaiu of the Pyrmont, who gave us all his vessel ipossessed. Ou Sunday, the 2Sth, we fell in wilh the ship -Carricks of Wokington, the captain of which gave us all he could spare, together •with a hearty welcome. By this time we had run short of water on board the Pyrmout, but on April 1 we had the good luck to fall in with an old friend, Captain Anderson, of the ship Yorkshire, who gave us hearty cheer, and Mrs Anderson, I am proud to say, supplied us with lots of clothes." The following are tbe names of lhe : saloon and second-cabin passengers: — Saloou — Mr. and Mrs. George Saxon, Mr. and TVlrs. Douglas Campbell, Mr. C. M. Wakefield j second-cabin — Miss Sheffield, Mrs. -Carson and two children, Messrs. T. "Crampton, T. H. Lippitt and Son, Antill, ,L -Ellis, George Williams, H. Miiner, Mr. and Mrs. G.Faulkner and three children, •and Mr. Edmunds.