THE ACCIDENT TO THE PIAKO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 64, 15 March 1879, Page 4

THE ACCIDENT TO THE PIAKO.

The following letter descriptive Of^ the BceDe on board the immigrant •hip Pinko when she wan fouod to be on fire was written by a •itter of Mr Moncaater'g of tbia town, who was a passenger in the unfortunate vessel:— Per numbo co, Tb* firaztis, South America, December i,lgth, 18r«w-rBear iiiter wd brother,

ihe present time of writing this, it is ppring here, I r.m sitting under a cocoa nut tree, in s tropical climate, with a large straw hat as large as an utnhrella, also a dress and nhoes of native make (Portuguese). No doubt you have aeen through ihe papers of ibfl unfortunate ship Pisko, which ] failed in from Plymouth; 29 of U9 were transferred from the Fernjflen to ihe Pisko, which ship was waiting out in harhor ready to suil. We left on the U th October, and all went splendidly till we got in the Bay of Biscay, when we had some losting about, but that is always expected, ns it is a fearful rough ses. One Bailor fell (ram the ma9t aud was badly hurt. Well, sometime, when, if God spores mo to land safely, I will tel! yon more. After we got over the Buy of Biscay, we had some bot wenihef. We put in the tropice, fiud bo hot for ftbout tm days we coul<J hardly hear any cioihefl on. Well, on Sunday, the 10th of November, all were h*ppv, expecting to cross the C«p9 of Good Hope soon, and the captain said ha thought we should have our Chrislma9 dinner in Nt>w Zealand ; hut next moroißf?, about ten o'clotk, after breakfast, and nil nicely on deck, some sewing, and doing all minuer of thing?, the fire bell rang, then the alarm " fire eoumJed. Such a tiroe an 1 such a ruth I hope never 10 see again. I have often read of fires at sec, but never whs on a buruint; sbip b fore. The pßfsen^erH were a'l ordered to the cabin cud, all tushing, shouting and praying, sailors worked as they never worked before, taking down nil sail to atop her from going, as the wind won d make the fire ail blaze up, dashing water over everything, others getting lifeboats out for us, and such a rueb for life. The capiain had a piatol in each band, ihe two mates, one with a hatchet to chop off the men's hands, the other with a dagger, as the Captain gave orders for all tha women and children to be caved first. It was an awful (imp, the captain sboutiog onJ roaring so hard that ha wfcs frothing at the mouth, caliiog to the people to be quief, nnJ that we would «}) be saved. It was a doe morning — -that wag in our favor — eocb a time, sending up sky rocket* and firing off; io facl, no oae could hear anything, such confusion. Tbe captain sent men up to the top-mobt to see if a ship was in sight, the men shontiog "no, sir." Then the capt&iu was ahoutiog all tha time to the people, sailor?, and the moa at the mast if there waa a sail in aigbt. "No, no/ was still the anawer, but in about half, an-hour there was the glad newa of a sail, a ship in eight. Taen the captain shouted " Thank Goc*, we wiil all be caved," and then mom of the passengers cried with joy. By lhia ii me almost all the married women and children were in the boats, then we single women were put in next; each host he!d about 40. I was iv the last one <o leave the side of the chip, 1 will tell you why. I had presence ol mind anii s»w bow tbey crowded, more than was right, and the sailors in the boats shouting aud swearing that the boats would siok. The ship came in eight just before the last boat left. We were all lowered over the side by rcpee round our waists, and all as wet as could be from head to foot; we had water caoe, and biscuits, blankets, and provisions in case we had to be out for days. It was of God's great mercy we were caved. We were hauled up with ropes in the other ship; they were throwing the young children in by tbe legs and arms. After we were saved they.Bent.ne (from ihe burning veseel) eight of onr poor sheep on board tbe Loch Doon, the uaaie of the ship that rescued us, ac, of course, they were not provided for ua; and lots of tbe fowls, ehesp, geeae;, and all wire floating in the water. I think we leave here nexe week lor New Zealand I must now say good bye aod love to all, hoping GoJ wiilseemeaflfe tbrongh. bjjudtbig loijie rpstcftbefamilyjaslbavenottbechance of wiitbg more.— Yonr effdetionae B:ster (signed), H.M.