LOSS OF THE SHIP BLUE JACKET BY EIRE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 514, 8 June 1869, Page 2

LOSS OF THE SHIP BLUE JACKET BY EIRE.

TV7O BOATS MISSING. News of the loss of the large clipper ship Blue Jacket by fire on March 9th, off the Falkland Islands, was brought to Melbourne last week by Captain Anderson, of the ship Yorkshire, who spoke a vessel at sea on board of which were the captain, chief officer, six of the crew, and all the passengers, of the ill-fated ship. She left Lyttelton, New Zealand, on February 11, witli a number of saloon and forecabin passengers, and for about four weeks she sped on her course without anything occurring to break the ordinary routine of the voyage. On March 9, however, when in kit. 50deg. 2iJmin. S., and long. 43deg. sSmin.\\ r ., that direst of visitations at sea—firewas discovered on board, and notwithstanding the intrepid efforts of the captain, passengers, and crew to subdue the conflagration, the gallant ship was utterly destroyed. All on board were speedily transferred to tta boats, which had been to some extent provisioned, and where some hurried preparations had been made in anticipation of the worst. The passengers and crew were divided among the three boats ; the captain, chief officer, and all the passengers, together with six of the crew, being in the cntter • while the remainder of the crew were in the life-boats, which were in charge of the second and third officers. The boats kept company for two days, but afterwards got separated, and concerning the fate of the two lifeboats with the second and third officers there is no record. The cutter, however, in which Captain White was, was more fortunate, and after a period of seven days of anxiety and suffering the castaways were picked up by the Hamburgh barque Pyrmont, from Iquique, bound to Falmouth. Every attention which the limited resources of the barque could afford to so large and sudden an increase to her complement was freely given, and just a? the fresh water on the barque was giving out, they providentially fell in with the Black wall liner Yorkshire. On ascertaining the state of matters on board the barque, Captain Anderson, with characteristic and praiseworthy humanity, supplied the Pyrmont with 6009 gallons of fresh water, and a large quantity of stores. Two of the passengers of the Blue Jacket and one of the crew came on by the Yorkshire to Melbourne, with the intention of returning to New Zealand. The fire is supposed to have originated amongst some clamp wool. Mr Farrington, the fourth mate, Mr Ellis,_a second class passenger, and Thomas Apsey, the third steward, died from the exhaustion and exposure they had undergone. It was a great miracle that more did not die, considering that for the seven days they were in the boat their allowance was two tablespoonfuls of water, and one of soup per day. The following are the names of the saloon and second cabin passengers. Saloon —Mr and Mrs George Saxon, Mr and Mrs E. Douglas Campbell, Mr 0. M. Wakefield ; second cabinMiss Sheffield, Mrs Carson and two children, Messrs T. Crampton, T. E Lippitt and son, Antil, J. Ellis, George "Williams, H. Milner, Mr and Mrs J. Faulkner and three children) and Mr Edmunds.