The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-07 00:00:00

Hastie and Macgregor, for their conduct in Parlia-
ment, which wag carried by acclamation.
Mr.,MAcoaEGou having acknowledged the vote of
thankF,_

Mr. 'JOHN MACADAM moved a vote or thanks to the
chairman for his conduct in the chair, which was
carried by acclamation, after which the meeting
separated.

FIRE AT SEA, AND SUFFERINGS OF

A CREW.
By the arrival of the Jordeson, Mr. J. Venables
master, in the docks yesterday, from Manzsuilla in
Cube, intelligence has been received of the total 'de-
struction, by fire, of the Eei;lish vessel Helen, and the
marvellous preservation of the crew, who, for upwards
of ten days, were buffeted about in the boats, in the
wide Atlantic, with but trifling provisions, and ex-
posed to the most boisterous weather. The Helen,
Mr. Turner commander, laden with a cargo of
general merchandise, amongst which were 140 tons of
India rubber, left Para, in the Amazon, South Arne•
rica, for Liverpool. dr. Wallace, a gentleman who
has attained some fame as a naturalist, was a pas-
senger in her to England, and her crew, including
the master and mates, numbered ten. The voyage
went happily enough until the morning of the 6th
of August, the vessel being in lat. 30.30 N.,
long. 52 W., when at about nine o'clock mach
alarm was caused by a quantity of smoke being
observed to issue from the fore scuttle. Mr.
Turner instantly adopted the most prompt means to
ascertain the seat of the fire, and to suppress it at
its then apparent early stage. The fore hatch was
opened, and it was then discovered that the flames
were raging in the after part of the ship immediately
below the cabin. Water was thrown down the after
hatch, and in order more effectually to reach the body
of fire, a hole was cut in the cabin deck through
which a vast quantity was poured. The highly in-
flammable character of the cargo, however, seemed to
defy all efforts to save it from destruction. The de-
structive element made its way to the main hold, and
the intense heat and smoke soon drove the seamen
from the cabin. The flames rolled up both sides of
the vessel with such fury as to render all hopes of
subduing them impossible. Mr. Turner, anticipating
the sad fate of his ship, had previously directed the
long-boat and gig to be lowered, and as much provi-
sions as could be procured placed in them. But a
small quantity could be obtained. At length, about
half•past eleven o'clock, after exerting every effort
to preserve the vessel from entire destruction, it
was deemed prudent to order the hands to take to
the boats. Bodies of flame had shot up through the
hatchways, and the heated condition of her decks
proved that she was alight below from stem to stern.
The crew, with Mr. Wallace, the passenger, put off
from her in the long-boat and gig, and hovered about
her at a safe distance, in the hope that her blazing
state might attract the attention of vessels passing by,
and in bearing down would see them, and pick them
up. Morning came, however, without any sail being
in view. Exposed as the unfortunate men were to a
powerful sun, their sufferings from thirst became most
intense, and as days passed by without there seeming
the least chance of being observed, a terrible fate ap-
peared to await them all. The boisterous weather
tried the boats severely, and the fear of their founder-
ing kept the poor creatures in a most painful state of
suspense. Several of the men, as also Mr. Wallace,
became much exhausted ; and that all of them should
have survived the fearful trial, may be deemed most
providential. At length, on the evening of the 16th of
August, towards dusk, they espied a sail in view.
Happily, they were perceived by the vessel, the
Jordeson, the master of whom, Mr. Venables,
promply bore down to their aid, and picked them up
in lat. 32 46 N., long. 61 W., the island of Ber-
muda being some 200 miles distant. Their sufferings,
however, did not altogether end on their being got
on board the Jordeson. The latter's provisions,
owing to the addition of the Helen's men, and a
somewhat protracted voyage, ran short, and all on
board were put on a very small allowance, at one
time almost next to nothing; indeed, but for a sup-
ply which was obtained from the Ocean Wave, home-
ward bound, they would have been all starved before
they reached the Channel. Strange as it may appear,
some rats were caught on board, and, being cooked,
were devoured with much relish. The contents of
the grease pot were also consumed, and, indeed, any-
thing that could sustain life. The escape of the two
boats of the Helen has excited much attention amongst
the shipping interest. A day or so after they were
picked up most formidable weather had set in, and
had they been out in it, that they would all have been
sacrificed there is no doubt.