The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-09 00:00:00

A SHIP ON FIRE IN THE LIVERPOOL DOCKS.

DEATH OP THE THIRD OFFICER.

LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.
Early this morning much excitement was caused
on the Liverpool Exchange in consequence of the announe►
meet that " the City of Agra, from Bombay. is on fire in
the Albert Dock." As this dock is almost exclusively used
by large first-class ships, principally in the East India and
China trade, and surrounded by large warehouses, in which
are stored immense quantities of general produce--cotton,
wool, tea, sugar, rum, hemp, &c.—there was much occasion
for anxiety. The City of Agra only arrived in the Mersey
on Tuesday, from Bombay, which port she left on the 28th
of June. She had a large and valuable general cargo on
board, consisting of about 5,000 bales of Surat cotton, and
a quantity of hemp, wool, and seeds. The vessel is com-
paratively new, and built of iron, and a good sailer. She is
owned in Liverpool by Messrs. Coupland and Co., and we
beliave that the ship and cargo are fully covered by the
uoderwriters.

So far es we can learn, the vessel went into the Albert
Dock yesterday, and the unloading of her was to have coot'
menced this morning. However, at about nine o'clock,
when the main hatch was unbattened, a thick volume of
smoke ascended, and the smell clearly indicated that the
cotton was on fire. The hatch TM at once battened down,
sod the vessel hauled out into the Albert Basin, so as to be
clear of alt other ships, in the event of the fire reaching the
upper deck and rigging. While the vessel wag being hauled
out a host of riggers were set to work, all the sails unbent,
the running rigging " unrigged," the boats, cabin furniture,
and all moveable deck equipments, taken on shore. In the
meantime the alarm was given to the fire police staticio, and
the dock and West of England fire-engines were shortly in
attendance. On the vessel being brought alongside the quay,
stages were immediately constructed, placed on board, and the
process of discharging commenced. On the hatches being
again uncovered several Lose pipes were inserted, and the
water poured in. The deck was also out up in five or six
places, into which hose pipes were likewise introduced, and
every possible effort made to subdue the fire. Now com-
menced a scene of the most exciting nature. As the bales
of cotton were hoisted from the mouth of the hatchway,
the smoke became more dense, and those at work below
appeared to suffer a great deal. In the course of about an
hour upwards of 20 men—dock porters and police 0.11011111-•
were brought on deck in a state of insensibility, and restore.
titer had to be applied to each. As it was known that the
third officer was below, and as he had been down for ►lout
two hours, it began to be generally rumoured' that he was
dead. This unfortun►tely proved but too true, for
about half-past 12 his body was found. It was
immediately taken on deck, and life was found
to be extinct. The deceased, whose name was Charles
Walsh, was a fine young fellow of about 22 or 23 years of
ace. Several of those who had been in the hold were so
utterly prostrated by suffocation that they had to be re
moved in cabs for medical attendance, Shortly after one
o'clock the fire appeared to have been subdued, but still
water continued to be plentifully plied into the hold, in
order to reader a further outbreak of the fire impossible.

Sims the burnisg of the celebrated clipper ship James
Baines, in tM Huskisson Dock, there has never been more
anxiety eviaced and excitement caused than by this event,
the only difference being that the James Baines was totally
destroyed, while the City of Agra, as far es regards her hull
and deeding rigging, is untouched.
The damage done to the cargo cannot at present be as-
certained.