The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-09 00:00:00

The following is a copy of the deposition of Henry
day :
Macdonald, befop the Receiver of Wrecks, on Satnr-
,

I was second mate of the ship Cospatrisk, of the port of
London, of the register tonnage of 1,200 tons, her official
number being 20,400. The Cespatrick was rigged as a ship
and was built of wood at Moulmein. The crew consisted of 44
hands. The ship had on board a general cargo,
shipped by Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., of London, and
consigned to varions consignees in Auckland. There were
about 429 paPsengers. The ship left London on the
11th of September last at 5 a.m., the tide at the
time being last quarter flood. The weather was fine,
and the wind blowing a moderate breeze. That at the time
of sailing the ship was in good condition, and well found in
every
,respect. There were two officers and 13 hands in
eaeh watch. There were six boats. An officer, or petty
officer, and four hands, were told off to each boat. The
mater, the boatswain, the carpenter, and the sailmaker
were not included in the watches. Previous to commencing
the voyage, the two quarter boats were lowered and palled
round the ship, and all boats were then in good order, and
gear got up in position for hoisting boats off skids. The
gear included a breaker for each boat, a mast and
sail for the long boat and for each lifeboat. The
deponent, as second officer, had general charge of the
hold, and attended to the stowing of the cargo. The
coals were stowed in the forepeak, and next the coals
water in tanks, and then the general cargo. The oils,
pitch, tar, and paints were stowed abreast of the fore.
hatchway on either side. The emigrant baggage was
stowed just by the main-hatchway. A quantity or spirits
was stowed in the run, and completely built over with
• measurement goods. . The salt provisions were stowed
the -coals. There was also' a quantity of-water in the after-P
hatchway. The remainder of the provisions were stowed
between the main and after hatchways, and were
accessible from the main hatchway. The packages of
provisions were brought up on deck to the issuing-room
and there opened as required. The issuing room was in
front of the poop in deponent's usual cabin, deponent being
berthed with the chief mate. There was a light in a
locked lantern at each hatchway. The lights were lit by
the emigrant's steward, who locked the lanterns and kept
the key each night. Constables selected from the emigrants
were on duty in the lween decks during the night. Regu-
lations prohibiting smoking and the use of lights were ex-
hibited in each compartment and were rigidly enforced
The regulations were personally enforced by the master
and doctor. the constables being selected by the master and
doctor, and acting under their immediate supervision. The
hatches to the lower hold were kept locked, and it was
impossible for the emigrants or crew to have access to them.
A few feet of the fore part to the 'tween decks was appro-
priated to the boatswain's locker. lore were kept ropes,
oakum, the ship's oils, and paints, cotton waste for cleaning
lamps in dry condition, and other general boatswain's and
carpenter's stores. The oils and paints were packed right
forward in sound cans, the spare rope was stowed next,
brooms, brushes, and cotton waste and sundries for the
ship's use being nearest the entrance, which opened from a
shaft leading up to the fore scuttle. The after part of the
shaft was a grating to ventilate the single men's compart-
ment. The key of this locker was kept by the boatswain,
who was a good steady man, and had been about six years
With the master of the vessel, since the master first took
the command of the vesseL The vessel was supplied with
a fixed fire engine on the forecastle-head, with a suction
pipe up and down the stem, and with a movable fire-engine
with a rubber suction hose. There was also a considerable
quantity bf delivery hose. These engines were under the
charge of the carpenter, were in good order, and were em-
ployed to endeavour-to put out the fire, throwing large quail,
titles of water. The vessel was well supplied with fire buckets
with lanyards attached: The vessel proceeded on her voyage,
and met with fine weather. Eight children died; there were
two births—one of the births occurring at ten p.m. on the
17th of November. During the voyage the master's hat
blew overboard; the port boat was instantly lowered to
pick it up, and returned to the vessel in a very short time.
That on Tuesday, the 17th at November, 1874, at noon, the
vessel was in lat. 37.15 S. and 12.25 E, the weather was
fine, the wind in the NNW, blowing a light breeze.
Deponent had charge of the first watch; and was relieved at
midnight by the chief officer. The vessel was barely steer-
ing. At about a quarter of an hour before midnight
deponent went carefully round the upper deck, over the
poop, and the forecastle. All was well; there was no
smell of fire or other matter to attract attention.
Deponent had been -below about three-quarters of an hour
when he was aroused by the cry of " Fire." Jumped out
of his berth and rushed on deck undressed. Met the
master at the cuddy-door in his shirt, who ordered depo-
nent forward to inquire the cause of alarM. Deponent
rushed forward and saw dense smoke coming UP 4k-. fore-
SCUttio. The chid Mot wan oting the are-e. • eto