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Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 73, 8 December 1855, Page 2

Loss qp the BaiG Pbijtce by Fibe.— The brig Prince, 268 tons, which was the property of Messrs. Francis Bauficld and Sons, sailed from London for Algoa Bay, the sth of last June, with a general cargo and the following passengers: — Mrs. Locke, widow of the late Eev. John Locke, of Graham's Town 5 Mr. George Locke, her son ; Mr. and Mrs. Boboy and two children, and Miss Ann Robey, of Bow, London ; Miss Deborah Solomon, of Cheltenham j Mrs. Thomas, the master's wife ; and Mr. Chaa. Ktaines, of Northampton. With the master himself, the passengers, and a crew of 12, there ■were m all 23 on board. On the 319t July, tho vessel was m latitude 3-1 degrees south, longitude 4 degrees we,st, after a quick run so far, having averaged daily for nine days previous three and a-half degrees of easting. At 4.80, Bfter passing the middle watch on deck, Captain Thomas went to bed, the wind then being steady, though it had been baffling during the night, accompanied by much lightuing. The sea also was very rough, and the vessel rolled heavily. At nix o'clock the chief officer aroused the captain and informed him that the vessel was on fire. When the captain got on deck, flames and smoke were rising from tho after-hatchway. By the xmited (Snorts of the crew and malo passengers m pumping and throwing water m the hatchway, the firo was at length, to all appearance, subdued. As soon as the captain had set all hand 3 actively at work, ho went up on the quartor-deck, from which the females on

board were looking on m consternation at the dread catastrophe which seemed to inevitably doom them to a horrible death, and directed them to look \ip to Him fox* help, from whom alone help could come. In those moments of mental agony they uttered no" wild expressions of despair, but retained that self-pos3essisn which they knew would best assist them m any efforts which might be made to rescue them from their horrible situation. They had for a moment indulged m the hope that the fire had been extinguished, when the captain, on looking into the hold, ascertained that the cargo, which was light and dry, was on fire from the mainmast to the afterhatchway. The ship not being quite full, the fire extended rapidly, and with so much force that it became painfully evident all hope of saving the vessel was at an end. But now, fortunately, the captain descried a ship far away to windward, and hauled towards her, the wind allowing him to lie two points higher than that vessel- wa3 steering, and so close on her. The pinnace was now put carefully overboard, and all the passengers, with the. chief officer and four of the crew, went into her. After this she was veered astern, but still remained attached to the vessel. The captain then hoisted the ensign union down at the topmast head, and the topgallant sails and topsails were lowered down, to indicate disorder on board, and that relief was mo3t urgently needed. The quarter-gig was afterwards launched, and the remainder of the crew, followed by the master himself, got into her. The flames at this time rose with great fury, as high as the mainmast, and had extended to the bulwarks and deck-house below, and to the rigging and sails aloft. Both boats were now veered further astern, to avoid being crushed by the mainmast, which was momentarily expected to fall. In fifteen minutes after the captain dropped over the stem into the boat the mainmast fell over with a tremendous crash. It was about this time perceived, with inexpressible delight, that the ship was bearing right down for the brig, and the wretchedness m which they had a little before awaited a horrible death was now forgotten m the joy of their deliver)', through the agency of a Divine Providence. As the wind now freshened very much, they experienced some difficulty m getting on board of the ship Marathon, from Liverpool — the name of the vessel which came to their relief; but, under the able management of Captain Wilson, of that vessel, this was safely effected, and their excitement subsided. After getting safely on board the Marathon they felt chilled by the Avet clothes m which they were clad— all they had saved— and were completely exhausted m mind and body. As Captain Wilson is now m our port with his vessel, the Marathon, we gladly give publication to the grateful acknowledgements of his kind and generqus conduct, made by the captain, passengers, and crow of the illfated Prince. In the narrative of the event which we have received from Captain Thomas, he ha 3 written : — "Every want of ours was supplied by Captain Wilson, his officers, and crew, to whom, under the guidance of Divine Providence, we are indebted for our lives ; as the wind continued to freshen, and increased m the night to a gale, m which the Marathon's gib-boom, bowsprit end, and cap were earned away, and several sails split. In such a gale, with a heavy breaking sea which was running, it would have been impossible for the boats to have lived a minute." As Captain Wilson, seeing that it would be a waste of time to remain by the Prince, made sail almost immediately after picking up her passengers and crew, she was not seen to sink ; but the whole vessel was observed to be enveloped m flames, and the foremast had fallen before they lost sight of her. On the 13th August, the Marathon signalled the American ship Albatross, from London to Calcutta, and communicated the loss of the Prince. On the 14th, the master of that vessel kindly offered to take some of the crew and passengers of the Prince on board, and six of the crew chose to avail themselves of that opportunity of going to Calcutta. We further learn, from the narrative of Captain Thomas, that for eight days previous to the disaster they had not seen a ship, and did not see another besides the Marathon for seven days afterwards, when, it beiug dark, they could not communicate with her. Tlje fire is supposed to have been occasioned by spontaneous combustion, or friction amongst the cargo, which was a general one.— S. A, Register.