BROACHING CARGO.—ANOTHER SHIP BURNT AT SEA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 142, 4 October 1876, Page 3

BROACHING CARGO.— ANOTHER SHIP BURNT AT SEA.

[From the Dnlbj T*li»jr*fh. July 10.] On Saturday morning the bavi{Ue Annie, t'*apta:n Evans, arrived in Cork Harlionr, i.:-,ving on board Captai;v >c-{'f-yt, the crew, and passengers of the iJritish ship Zemindar, which "had been abandoned on tire. Captain Stediford reports that his vessel was i,OWT tons. She left Demerara on the 4th June with a cargo of rnm, sugar, and cotton, bound for Liverpool. On the 25th of that month, at half-past 10 p.m., the second officer, Mr. Rockwell, reported that the ship was on fire, and tttat smoke was coming from the forehatch. The hatch was immediately taken off, and a copious supply of water poured down, bnt it took n«» effect. While efforts were still being made to overcome the tire, the captain had boats launched, and into one of them placsd the following persons, who were passengers: Mrs. Adair, Miss A.* Mahoncy, Master Etliell, John Jones, and the captain's wife and child. This boat was made fast to the stern, and they remained in her all night, btueligltts and rockets being constantly used. In the meantime, every exertion was made to get the fire under, but without avail. The signalling fortunately proved effectual, for in the morning at four o'clock the Annie hove in sight. Captain Stediford at once sent the boat containing the passengers to her. Captain Evans returned in the boat and went on board the burning ship, which the captain, otKeers, and crew were still using evenendeavor to save. It now transpired that one of the seaman, named Robert Fantkiner, confessed to the second mate that he had set tire to the ship while broaching a cask of rani. Faulkiner was at once called on deck, and repeated the confession in the presence oH Captain Evans and others. He said that the fire originated in the mainhold ; that lie had a match with him, which he lighted after broaching a cask, and in endeavoring to put a spill into the gimlet-hole in the cask, the spirit which was flowing out was ignited. It went beyond nis power to extinguish it, and his anu» and neck were very much burnt. Acting on that information, Captain Stediford had a holt? cttt in the deck. It was then found that the hold between the decks was in a blaze, and a great volume of wat'jr was injected, but the flame* so thoroughly caught the cotton and sttgar, as well a* the rum. that they became |>ert'tctty uncontrollable. At eleven a.m. the tire was still gaining rapidly, whereupon Cat tain Stediford h.id the boats stocked with 1 provisions, preparatory to abandoning the ship. He remained on her ti!l t'sc following day at noon, and just after he left she wa» ablaze from poop to forecastle. All hands then proceeded on board the Annie, which was lying a quarter of a mile off. Before they parted from the Z'.'tftindar the roast* had fallen over the aide, and she was one gigantic fiainc, and could not have floated "many hours. _ S!t3 belonged to Messrs. Sandhatch, Tinne, and Co., Liverpool. At tue timr? of the dr.scoVe.ry of the fire the man Faulk titer was. at the wheel, but he never gave any information of what he knew until it was too. late to save the ship. On arrival here he was handed over to the police, and wiP W brought up at the petty sessions toMonday). Captain Stediford, the passengers, and crew of the Zemindar speak in the highest terms of the kindness they received on board the Annie.