SHIP ON FIRE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 31, 15 November 1842, Page 3

SHIP ON FIRE.

(Communicated by Captain Hoskin.) Extract from the Log Book of the ship Renown, Capt. Wm. Hoskin, on her voyage from Sydney, New South Wales, bound to Liverpool. “ Saturday, 25th June, 1842 : At 9 a.m., perceived a strange smell in the cabin ; at noon overhauled the whole vessel, but found nothing to account for it; at 30 min. past noon, cleared the sail cabins, state rooms, &c., and in so doing, found the smell came from the hold, between the bulk-head and the cabin and the half deck ; the smell increased so fast, having every symptom of the wool being on fire ; turned the people to immediately, to get part of the provisions on deck, all the spirits, oil, rope, &c., and closed all down, and made everything as air-tight as possible ; set all possible sail, and kept the ship before the wind for Rio ; cleared away the long-boat and pinnace, and got tackles rove ready for hoisting the boats out. Lat. obs. 24 deg. 20 min. S. “ Sunday, 26th June : Moderate winds, standing towards, the .land ; at 4 a.m., smoke was discovered coming through the break of the quarter-deck, and smelling like "the smoke of burnt wool; at G, the smell and smoke increasing much, and every symptom of the ship being on fire, the captain ordered the long-boat and pinnace to be hoisted out, with oars and sails, and sent the passengers, who were useless on board, in them ; the boats being ready, were let drop astern, being provided with a cask of water, some provisions, and spirits, two chronometers, and what might be required for navigating the boats to land ; at this time the glass of the skylight, and the wood of the companion, was burning-hot; covered the coats of the masts, as well as the skylight and companions, with blankets and sails, that were kept constantly wet. At llh. 30m., fire bursting through the starboard side of the ship a little before the mainchains ; captain ordered water to be thrown in, if possible, to stop the flames ; at this time there was nothing but a solid mass of fire ; the boats were ordered alongside the ship, and the remainder of the passengers and some of the crew sent into them, the captain having determined to remain by the ship, in hopes of saving her and cargo, keeping myself (chief mate) and seven of the crew on board, who were employed pouring water into the holes made by the fire, and keeping every thing wet about the deck ; at midnight, light winds and fine weather, the two boats towing astern, with part of crew and passengers, the fire still increasing, from midnight till 4 a.m.; captain ordered the crew who were in the boats to come on board, to relieve those who had been working all night. At daylight, being in sight of the land, the captain determined to break into the ship, by cutting away the covering board, where the fire appeared to rage most, filled several casks with water, all ready to start into the hold; at 6 a.m., everything prepared, commenced cutting away with the broad axe, and pouring water in the aperture as fast as possible ; at eight the fire appeared somewhat abated, and broke open the half-deck hatch, and threw down quantities of water, cleared away, and found that nearly all the sails were burned, ship’s stores, provisions, &c., all spoiled by the fire; at 9 the fire appeared to be extinguished, a sail in sight iri shore, sent away the ship’s gig with hands to .provide a passage for some of the passengers; the ladies appeared to have suffered very much from alarm and exposure to the weather ; at 11, the gig returned, and reported the vessel was bound to Rio de Janeiro; Capt. Hoskin then put on board Mr. and Mrs. Badham, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. M‘Allan, Mrs. Muillicr, Mr. Perry, and Mr. Garrett; at noon, returned to the ship, hoisted up the pinnace and gig, and towed the long-boat astern. “ Monday, 27th June ; H. M. Brig Fantome spoke us, the captain kindly offered assistance, and sent a boat on board with the first lieutenant and surgeon to inspect the ship ; as there was no symptoms of fire then to be seen the Fantome’s boat left us. At 8, no appearance of fire, employed throwing water over the burnt part of the ship ; midnight, threw more water. At 4 a. m. moderate breeze, set all studding sails ; at 8, employed getting the anchor over the bows, bending cables, and getting ready for entering port. Noon, no appearance of fire. Lat. 30 deg. 20 min.

“ Tuesday, 28th June. At 3p. m. the captain discovered the wool on fire in the hold in the same place as before, all the hands immediately ordered to pour water on the fire, and to take the burning wool on deck, at 4 no fire to be seen, though the wool in some places was still very hot. At 8, light winds and cloudy, no appearance of fire; set a watch in the hold to look out for fire breaking out again. Midnight, calm and hazy ; 4 a. m. at daylight, saw the entrance to Rio harbour, bearing N. E. by E,; no appearance of fire. Lat. obs. 23 deg. 9 min.; and at 4 p. m. come to an anchor abreast of the fort.”

The news from Persia is satisfactory. Tlitf shall lias formally abandoned all intentions of encouraging the A ffghans by a march of troops towards Herat. The Russians have, as gards us, behaved well in that quarter, and their present diplomacy in Persia appears to be open and fair.

Worship Street. —On Tuesday, Joshua Newhurn, a young man about 25 years of age, whose swarthy visage was tatooed like a native of New Zealand, was placed at the bar before Mr. Bingham, upon a charge of being drunk and assaulting the police. •Mr. Bingham asked if he understood English ? Sergeant Lambert said the prisoner was a Londoner, born near St. Luke’s church; but it appeared from his own account of himself, that he had been made prisoner by the New Zealanders, and had passed several years amongst them, after having consented to be tatooed like one of themselves. The prisoner’s narrative was to the following effect:—About 11 years back, he was a boy on board a whaler called the Marquis of Lansdoivnc, but during an outward voyage was seized with typhus fever, and put with others on board a schooner, to be conveyed to port. He and his companions, however, fell into the hands of the savages, by whom they were all, in a short time, destroyed and (we understood him) eaten, except himself; but he having been reserved till the last, his life was spared, upon his consenting to be marked and to live with them. He accordingly underwent the painful process of tatooing, preparatory to which, however, they administered to him Some narcotic, to render him less sensible to the pain of the operation. He was with them nearly ten yeafs altogether, and frequently engaged with them in their battles with hostile tribes, after which contests the prisoners were commonly killed and eaten by the native captors. He had no wife amongst them, but had married since his return to England, and has lately been exhibiting as a New Zealand chief at places of public amusement. A police constable of the N divi - sion stated, that while on duty at a late hour on Monday night, he heard an extraodinary kind of yelling in Floxton square, and proceeding to the spot,, found the prisoner dancing about, and disturbing the neighbours with his wild and terrific cries. The prisoner, who was drunk, instead of desisting, and going away as desired, set the witness and other constables at defiance, and after a- violent resistance, was lodged in the station-house. Sergeant Lam- . bert, said, that he was exceedingly violent at the station-house, and vowed vengeance against the constable who took him there, threatening to feast upon his heart, and “ lick his chops with his blood;” and during the greater pari, of the night he appeared to be d;fhcing his war dance in the cell, and screeching at the top of his voice. The prisoner, whom the New Zealanders had named “ Moika Makoura,” the meaning of which he stated to be “The tatooed ' spirit,” now expressed his sorrow for his disorderly conduct. He very seldom drank spirit?, but when he did, he said it made him quite wild; and a friend whom he met on Monday had made him drink some. Mr. Bingham told him he must be aware that such wild conduct could not be permitted; and if he got drunk and committed himself even in New Zealand, he would have to bear the consequence of his misconduct. He must pay five shillings for getting drunk. The prisoner, who had no money, was locked up until the close of the business, and then discharged.— (lllustrated English Ncivs.) Attack on Her Majesty’s Ship Pantaloon. —Letters from the coast of Africa to the 26th of March, state that the Pantaloon in goingout of the Gambia, got high and dry on a treacherous bank, and was obliged to raft her guns to get her off. During this operation one hundred and fifty armed natives, in ten canoes, pushed off to secure their prize, and on thenopponents having showed hostile intentions, while the able seamen were engaged with the rafts at some distance, and none but lads on board and two guns, these protected themselves until the sailors in the boats from the rafts dashed in among them, and, with Jack’s usual bravery, hurled a lot of them into the sea, and made twenty-three prisoners, who are now at the Gambia waiting a negotiation with their King. At the time the.attack was made upon the brig, fourteen armed canoes were ready to push off. but as soon as they saw the fate of their companions, they shrunk from a second attempt .—English Paper «