The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-09-18 00:00:00

PETROLEUM AT SEA.

The following account of an exciting scene, ones-
gilled by the ignition of petroleum, had been sent to
Tie Times by "Win. L. Holden," dated from the
ateamehip Lady Wodthouse at anchor off Dungenesa,
Sunday, the 12th inst.
. . .

We left London on Saturday morning, for Dublin, at
tee o'clock, by the steamship Lady WodeAnuse Captain F.
Illegunson, makb g a fair 1,141.84.: as far as Dover, when a
strong breeze sprang up, which very soon became a fearful
gal, —a more fretful one the captain states tie has never
encourn.ered In his experitnce in the Cheenel Part ot
the Carail commted of casks of petroleum and iucifer
soothes. Soon after pout g Headley Head, while the
whole of the passengers were prostrated by sit knees, most
of Is boon sere in bed, an alarm of fire was given, which
proved toe true. 'I he la/things of the petroleum c inkS on the
forecastle gave way, and being dashed against the hinge
chests of Inciter, in meoiately ignited, and the petroleum
casks mining towards the centre of the vetoed set tire to the
stile of tbe saloon, hurt. &mirth° roof of it ass of the gentle-
men. sleep tag bertha, fired two of the fireboats. attn. the
flame; tie no with fearful rapidity to a great height shove
the eeck, occ ,SiOlning a OM:4,IIWD. Raton, the pas.g,,,gge,
and crew beyond any words of mine to portray.
Such was the awful nature of the scene, every one Wring
the m.elves up for lost; the ladies arid gentlemen buddit d up
Weather, hell Ilre.ed, awaited with calm fortitude the heal
scene, when by a merrifnl Providence and the untiring este
lions of he crew, aided by some deck soldier passecgers, it
vas reported as subo ued, the stench from the paraffin berg
of a chokin.g character. 'I his fearful scene recopied three ter-
rible hours int doubtful result The ladies behaved with the
greatest fortitude, while several gentlerteu volunteered their
ministate° to extiognith the flames and with the admirable im-
mediate use of the ship'a haat by subduing the flames restored
comparative consolation. The wind, accompanied lay rain,
comanue the while time, there was no remaining on deck,
anal every article it. the saloon Was overturned, and the
passel gore hart at last reemerge to tie neer fra to sheer c •m-
-pulsiou. No lives were lost, but several wounds and con-
ten ions were received.
We h. d scarcely composed ourselves with this donhtful
socurity when flames were. again seen ascending (nom the
deck of the vessel, arisen. g a further alarm it would be
futile to attempt to describe This arose from the rheas of
Inciter matches, great quantities of which were on hoard,
'pont aueout ly 'grating, the whole of which and the petroleum
casks wets thrown overheurd, anti happily tide second
Moror was at length bverc. me. Let one ask when our we
to have protect from the baneful practice of allowing
petroleum and such matches to he conveyed fry an agency
that threatens so nbany lives of travellers? With the late
Welsh catastrophe lan vividly lii mind it required only the lair-
roes of this morning to crown the cony and matinee I the
resent yroctlee. After fruitlessly contendiug against the
storm for 12 hours, the valiant captain whom Ino praise of
redo could serve, pre up the attempt to reach Portsmouth
Harbour, very reluctantly throed about, and reached here
about three o'clock, where we ara tiding safely atanchir, the
aimt blowing fearfulls, and the ma lading tremendously.
Fx,one the rrora of thia imperfect statement, written
under great exintement, but not withoet a feeling of deep
gratitude to that Almighty Powe: whose footsteps are on the
deep.

PORISMorilt, Tuesday Morning 12) ro.—lf the above ac-
count has not bsen anticipated. I ones this to state that
after encountering the severe gale of :.und ay for eight hoer.;
alter the fires, we were crdripelle,, toturn the vessel round
and reached Dungeness, where all My yesterday the whet
blew another Late. We sailed from thence at 11 30, and
landed here thin day