The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-18 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE SHIP USK BY FIRE,

THE VISION OFF CAPE HORN—EXTRAOR-
DINARY COINCIDENCE.
On Saturday a despatch from the British consul
at Coquimbo was received by the Secretary of the
Board of Trade, announcing the destruction by fire
of the English barque Usk, while on a voyage from
Swansea to Huaseo.
Before giving the details of the despatcb, it may
be stated that this was the unfortunate ship which
put back early last year from Cape Horn to Eng-
land i❑ consequence of the captain seeing, as he
alleged, a vision on the ocean which warned him
not to proceed any further on the voyage, and that
in the event of his persisting, both he and the ship
would be sent to perdition, The vessel's return to
Cardiff, after a lapse of nearly six months, in a good
seaworthy condition, naturally astonished the
owners, more especially when they heard the curious
story which had operated upon the captain's mind
in putting the ship back when she had so nearly
reached her destination. A Board of Trade inquiry
was instituted into the captain's conduct. The
crew were examined, and they spoke of him as
being a very careful and sober master, although
somewhat eccentric in his manner, and when they
found that he had put the ship back without any
reason for so doing, the chief mate remonstrated
with him, and endeavoured to take charge, which
the captain resisted by placing him in irons. The
captain was examined and he solemnly declared that
after what had appeared to him he could not go on;
it was the vision of the Lord, and he was bid not to go
on. The result of the inquiry was that his certificate
was cancelled. A new master was appointed to the
ship, and she sailed a second time on the voyage.
What happened to her will be gathered from the
subjoined document :
British Consulate, Coquimbo, Dec. 3, 1863.
Sir,--I have to inform you that the barque Usk,
from Swansea to Husaco, took fire on the 16th of
November last, and was abandoned the following
day in lat. 33 S., long. 74 10.
The vessel sailed from Swansea on July 16, and
nothing of importance occurred on the voyage up to
5 a.m. on the 16th November, when smoke was seen
coming out of the hatches, and four tons of blasting
powder were taken from the hold and thrown over-
board. At 3 p.m. an explosion took place. The
boats were then got out, and at 7 p.m. the ship,
being full of smoke fore and aft, was put under easy
sail, with her head towards the main land. At 8
p.m. the crow left the ship, and the boats were
towed all night. At 5 a.m. of the 17th flames were
seen issuing out of the after hatchway, but in con-
sequence of a heavy sea, and the vessel being fall of
smoke, she couli not be boarded. Both boats were
then cut adrift, and steered for the mainland. The
mate, six seamen, and a passenger arrived at this
port on the 21st alt., having been picked up in the
long boat by the Chilian schooner Guayacan the
previous day. The master and remainder of the
crew reached Caldera on the 24th ult, The sole
cause of the fire appears to have been the spontane-
ous combustion of the coal composing the cargo —I
am, &c., G. A. F. TAIT,
H.B.M. Acting Consul.
To the Secretary Marine Department,
Board ®f Trade, Whitehall.