The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-06-07 00:00:00

DREADFUL EXPLOSION ON BOARD A
TRANSPORT.
SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE.

l'oammouTil, Friday.
An explosion occurred this morning on board
the ship Eastern Monarch, which had just arrived
from Bombay, with nearly 600 invalids on board.
It is feared that nearly 30 persons have met midi a
watery grave. The Eastern Monarch belonged to
Messrs. Soames, of Blackwall. She was a first-
class ship, nearly 2.000 tons burthen. She was from
Kurrachee, bound to London, and had about one
hundred and forty troops on board, invalids, besides
several chief cabin paseengers. She arrived at
Spithead at one o'clock this riling, and anchored.
In about an hour-soda half afterwards a fire was
discovered raging among the cargo, in the main hold,
evidently the result°, spontaneous combustion, arid,
notwithstanding the vigorous efforts of the crew and
troops to prevent it extending. the flames suread
throughout the ship with astounding rapidity.
Captain Morris, the master, had rockets fired and
, other signals of distress to attract the attention of
the ships of war in the harbour, which being seen,
numbers of boats put off to the burning ship. With
difficulty Captain Morris succeeded in getting the
invalid soldiers and the women and children into the
ship boats, mid they were taken on board of the
nearest of the ships. At four a.m, all had left the
ship, excepting five or six of the crew and a Cowes
i pilot, who it is believed perished in the hold in an
attempt to get at some of the cargo. By that hour
all hopes of saving the vessel were at an end. She was
on fire in every part, and her total destruction was
inevitable. At 6.30, Her Majesty's steamer Falcon
commenced firing into the stern of the burning ship
to sink her. She was then completely in flames,
both fore and aft, and her masts had fallen over-
board. Her loss is calculated at nearly £50,000.

HER MAJKSTV'S YACHT Al4HOßt.—Antwerp, Friday
Night.--In consequence of an accident occurring to the
Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, by her running ashore
early this morning in her passage up the Scheldt, her
Royal Highness the Princess Frederick William was de-
tained many hours, and did not reach here till about
half-pact 5 &clock this evening. After leaving Graves-
end the yacht encountered a heavy fog off tie Nor,,
which considerably retarded her progress. At the
mouth of the Scheldt she was boarded by a pilot, who
was in charge et the ship when she went ashore, at a
place called Old Kirk. The Hon. Captain Denman
adopted every means to get her off, but she remained
had fast. Unfortunately the Admiralty yacht Vivid, which
accompanied the Royal yacht from Gravesend, had gone
on to Antwerp, and there was no vessel plying here. to
take on board her Royal Highness Princess Frederick.
In this dilemma Captain Denusan went on shore, and
got a mounted express to take a message to the nearest
i
railway station, to be telegraphed to the officer n charge
of the Vivid. at Antwerp, ordering his immediate re-
turn to the Royal Yacht. The telegraph meniage ar-
rived about noon. The Vivid proceeded as directed, and
about half-past 5 returned to Antwerp with her Royal
Highness on board. The Princess on landing was moil
ordially received.