THE BURNING OF THE WILLIAM BROWN.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 436, 27 December 1861, Page 2

THE BURNING OF THE WILLIAM BROWN.

The following graphic account of the loss of this ship en route for New Zealand, is from the pen of Mrs. Hirst, who had beeu resident in Taranaki for many years ; but for some months have been visiting with lier relatives in England. The disasters which are detailed below happened to them on their return to New Zealand. The letter "is addressed to Mrs. Hirst's children in New Zealand, and says :—

" Our ship the William Brown is destroyed by fire, but I will try as far as my shattered nerves will allow to give you an account of the terrible disaster. I wrote to you from Plymouth the day we left. We had terrible weather through the Bay of Biscay -such fearful gales and the wind mostly against us. On the 2nd Octbner the wind changed in our favor, but there was a fearful sea running. We sat rather long at our tea, the captain was so cheerful and hopeful. After tea he went on deck, and papa with him. In a few minuteß one of the men came and said there was smoke coming from the hold. The captain and mates went forward; papa came and told me, and I put on my shawl and bonnet and went up The men came to get buckets or anything to hold water. Some of the children had gone to bed; we got them up and dressed them on the poop, and brought their blankets up. It began to rain and we went down into the cabin, but it was full of .-mHke and we were obliged to go up again. I got my pocket with mj purse in, and papa got his portmanteau, with his papers and money in. It rained a little aiid we covered ourselves with the bankets. The scene forward was all confusion ; the captain came a*'t and told us to keep up as he thought they were getting the fire under. The steward got up a bag of biscuit and a cask of water, the captain's desk and sextant. We did not know he had gone down again for the chart. . The captain calied "steward;" there was nj answer, and he rushed into th: cabin, shouting " help." Paparandown, and in an instant they brought- up the lifeless nody of the poor steward. Wo did what we could to restore animation—raised his head, pressed his chest, blew in his mouth—but he was quite Rone, The captain was obliged to leav^ him to us, while he went to try and get his chart, papa calling to him all the time. He succeeded, and brought it to me to take charge of; they then cloied the cabin so that no air could get in. The captain again came aft, and said there was no hope of getting the fire under, called the men to launch the boats, the women andchi dren sitting perfectly quiet . Nothing was heard from them but the voice of prayer, th>' little.boys, kneeling on the deck with their hands clasped and their faces turned upwards. Those words of our Saviour came to my mind, « Fear not, only believe.' The flames had now burst forth with great fury ; it was supposed that.it was oil and turpentine that were burning. The captain feared the foremast would be burnt through; the mate and four of the crew got into the long boat, got in the biscuit and water; we then threw in the blankets, and the women and children were lowered—l was the last I put my legs over the side, they tied two ropps round me. The sea was roaring, and the boat dashing about fearfully; they lowered me twice, and the third time I got safe to the bottom of the, boat. The men were then lowered, but the sailors, the. captain, second mate, and four men remained in the. ship The boat dashed against the burniug ship, and we thought every minute she would be stove in, or the mast would iall on her. We at last got clear of the ship, but were still fast to her by a long rope. All this was within abouc four hours from the fire being first discovered. We saw them lower tha captain's gig, and he was the last man to leave the ship. When they came up to us he came into our boat, to which the gig was fastened, and with an axe he cut away the rope fastening us to tha ship. I was bitting in the middle of the boat, and the water was up to my waist. The captain would have me move to the end Where tho other woman were, and has he lifted me up said,

•Oh, she has been siiting in the water a;id never spoken.' * * * The captain said the fire would tie seen twenty miles off, and our only chance of being picked up would be to remain near the ship. They cut the rope and we drifted away; it was a great relief, although we feared the result, we stillkept near the ship, the waves every moment appearing ready to stva.low us t«p. Towards midnight the wind increased and we hud a cross sea; the men worked with all their might to keep the boat's end on to the sea, and she was continually working round broad-ide, and then there was nothing for it but she would ship a heavy sea and they feared she would be swamped. They lost three oars, and worked as men who work for their lives. About one o'clock we thought we saw a"light; every eye was strained. In a short time, oh, what a rapturous sight! A green and red light were visible and a ship was evidently bearing down upon the burning vessel; but, alas, we were drifting away fast to windward,-* the masts had gone and the ship was. drifting fast to leeward, one burning mass from stem to stern. Mr. Thompson had his rifio, but the sea had washed over it and it would not fire. We had a lantern and a few matches, but they would not light. .The men shouted with all their might, but oh! how faint it seemed. There was nothing hut to pray, and wait for daylight. They cut the captain's gig adrift, and seiit the men to try to get to the ship. It was with heavy hearts we saw the poor little boat bounce away on the top of the waves, looking no bigger than'a cockle shell, and we soon lost.sight of her. With truly thankful hearts we saw the first streak of daylight, and then we took one of the oars and fastened two red handkerchiefs to it, for a signal. We had lost sight of the ship for some time, but as daylight increased we again saw her, hearing down upon us. None but those who have been similarly situated can form an idea what our feelings were. .*>he was soon near us, and we were very glad-to'see Mr. Smith, the second mate, and the men of the gig, all safe aboard. They threw us a rope, which was soon made fast to our boat, and we were soon all safe on board, the captain coming last. It was a Swedish brig from Stockholm, bound to Rio •Janeiro laden with salt, t^he Hedwig Charlotte, Captain I-lalle.ngreen."

The writer goes on to speak of the exceeding kindness with which they were treated >n board this ship, by which they were taken to Madeira. Their treatment here from the British Consul's officials was very had indeed, but they met with • Goon Samaritan's' in other qua: ters. From thence they were sent off to Lisbon, where exactly the same sort of conduct was shown to them—official indifference, but much private charity. After many paintul delays they left that, port, and arrived at Gravesend on the 18th inst., and reaching Halifax ou Saturday noon.

Total "Wreck of the schooner Tysb, prom Otago.-—News of the total wreck of the schooner Tync, bound to Port Chalmers, and the loss of four !of her passengers, one of them cut in two, only reached us yesterday, although it occurred at Tasman's Fenihe sula, early on Tuesday morning last. The men whwere lo*t were John Brown, lately resident on tho West Tainar; John Sawyer, and a man named Moore of Hobart Town, besides poor John Wilson who suffered such a fearful death. It is said that the barque Don Pedro was wrecked near the same spot a« the Tyne, and that it was by the aid of one of the Don Pedro's planks the survivors crossed a deep chas.ni, and escaped from the ledge ot rock on which they had first been placed.— Cornwall Chronicle, Dec. 7. *

LONDON WOOL EEPOBT.-Octoher 23. The same inactivity noticed in our last report continues, and the few contracts made are entirely for hand to mouth operations, the only exceprio'o being for low Enst Indias, which have "found ready sale for America, at an average advance of Id. to 2d. on the rates current in July. Our owu manufacturers were likewise steady buyers at this advance, some very large contracts having been taken for blankets for that market. The next series of Colonial wool sales commence on the 7th November. The arrivals, including held over wools, now amount to 65,000, which it is anticipated will be increased to 70,000 bales—-the largest number ever offered at the November sales. Wiih reference to the probable range of prices, it is difficult to form an opinion. AH operations in the North are conducted with great caution, and there is, evident.y, but little disposition on the part of either dealers or manufacturer to have large stocks This may produce some slight reaction in prices, as few will like to.purchase more than their probable consumption till the end of March next, when, if the accounts given ofsome of the large dip anticipated are realised, a very large FtbruaryMtticli sale may be exp.-cted.— Home News.