Burned at Sea. GERMAN BARQUE DESTROYED OFF CAPE HORN.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 242, 18 February 1888, Page 7 (Supplement)

Burned at Sea. GERMAN BARQUE DESTROYED OFF CAPE HORN.

The British barque Carleton has arrived at San Francisco, and advises of a terrible disaster that occurred off Cape Horn last September, al which time the German barque Johanna was burned, and nine of her crew were lost after taking to the boats to save their lives. The Carleton left England on the 24th of August, and had heavy weather to the equator. On September 30th a small boafo containing men was observed drifting about on the ocean. It was picked up and its occupants consisted of the captain, three mates and iive seamen belonging to the German bark Johanna. The rescued men told a pitiful story of having been adrift in the open boat for three days and four nights. Their vessel had been burned off Cape Horn. The vessel left Shields on July 31st with 1146 tons of coal. She was bound to Iquique, and had a crew of seventeen men aboard. The following extracts from the statements of the officers tells the story of the disaster : October 26th, latitude 58-28deg S., longtitude 77-33deg W. , by spontaneous combustion the coal took tire. Discovered the firo in the forehatch, and used every means to subdue it, but it was no use, as the main hatch burst open at 6 p.m., flames coming from the forohatch at the same time. As the ship was all afire, had to take to ohe boats at 7 p.m. On lowering the port boat she capsized as soon as she reached the water. J. Sorenson was drowned at the time. It had been blowing a gale from west-northwest for twenty-four hours. The next boat was lowered at 9 p.m., with seven of the crew and the cook. This being tho mate's boat the captain asked him if he had any water on board. The mate then came on board to get some water, and while he was on board the crew cut the painter of the boat and left the ship. The captain ordered them to come back, but they were so excited from the heat they took no notice of the captain's order. The captain's boat left at 1. 30 a.m. , on the 27th, the ship being then a mass of flames. Laid at the vessel's stern for an hour and steered for the north-west. On the 27th at 9 a.m. all three maste went over the side. Saw nothing of the other boat after leaving the vessel. The captain's boab steered north-northwest for three days and four nights with heavy north-northwesfc gales all the time, when she was picked up by the Carl ton.