The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-08 00:00:00

TEE LOSS OF THE SHIP POLAR STAR

BY FIRE.

The following account of this unfortunate disaster
has been received from the captain of the ill•fated'

vessel :

" Sunday, October 1, 1854, lat. 31 S., long. 25 W.,
at eight a.m., I was alarmed by the cry of fire, which
was immediately confirmed by the serjeant of the detach-
ment of Royal Artillery which was on board, rushing
into the cuddy, calling to kis lieutenant—' The ship is
on fire, sir! the ship is on fire, sir !' I immediately
rushed out on deck, and found the statement but too true.
On going forward I found the smoke issuing out of the
fore hatchway ii a dense black cloud. I immediately or-
dered the helm to be put up, and let the ship go off be-
fore the wind. The smoke thon began to ascend in a thick
black cloud up the main hatchway. All hands, troops and
passengers, were immediately set to work with pumps
and buckets to poor water down the hatchways, it being
impossible for ariy one to get below. After working
with the water for some time, and finding that the fire
was gaining, I ordered all the hatches to be put on and
securely battened. down, to prevent any air from getting
below. After getting hatches secured, cleared away the
launch, and hung her over the side in the tackles, fear-
ing the flames would burst up the hatchway and consume
her. After seeing the beats all right, we cut holes in
the deck fore and aft to insert funnels, being careful to
stop up the holes when the funnels were removed from
one hole to. another. Daring the whole of this time no
pen can describe the distraction and confusion amongst
the women and children—many of them with scarcely
any clothing on them, and no possibility of jetting--tarry:
We now found ourselves in a most deplorable position ;
for, in addition to having our ship burning under us,
we found that we had neither water nor provisions
on deck, a thousand miles away from, hind, and our
boats not capable of containing more than two-thirds
our number, if obliged to have recourse to them.—
Noe* : Crew and passengers working unceasingly with
pumps and buckets, in the hopes of keeping the fire un-
der. Observing a great deal of smoke to escape out of
the topgallant forecastle, we immediately filled up all the
seams and crevices, and covered all over with a wet sail.
About four p.m. made an attempt to get down through
the poop into the after storeroom, and succeeded in
getting up two or three bags of biscuit, two or three
hams, and a small keg of spirits. Eight p.m. ; Divided
the troops, passengers, and sailors in two watches, Lieu-
tenant Temple taking charge of one watch, and myself
the other. They were then told to which boat they
would have to go in case of necessity, so as to have as
little confusion at last as possible. Sixty were named for
the launch, 22 for the pinnace, and 14 for the gig. The
watch was then set to work again, and continued through.
out the night to work incessantly and cheerfully. At
daylight on Monday morning sent ono hand up to the
masthead, hoping some sail might providentially heave
in sight, as that was our only hope of escape, the boats
being sure to swamp if made use of. Noon.—Strong
breeze and a dark gloomy atmosphere, all hands working
moat indefatigably, and making every effort to keep the
fire under. Six p.m. ; Darkness again closing in without
having seen any sailor signs of delivery. Oh, ho w anxiously
every eye was directed around the horizon so long as a
blink of daylight remained ! But in vain. Nothing
was to be seen afloat but our burning ship, the smoke
issuing out of every aperture where any air was admitted;
Eight p.m. : Set the watch again, and relieved each
other during the night. Daylight : Sent another look-
out up to the masthead, but nothing to be seen. Six
a.m. : Got some water out of the tank, and found it to
be almost up to boiling heat ; the deck becoming very
much heated. Noon : Strong breeze and cloudy ; no-
thing in sight ; crow all at work, making every effort
to suppress the fire and to keep it from bursting forth.
Six p.m.: Just as night was closing in for the third time,
and with it almost every hope of succour, it pleased God
to bless our sight and cheer our hearts with the sight of
a ship on our weather bow. All hands immediately
got up and gave three cheers, but as darkness was
closing in fast they were admonished not to build their
hopes too high for fear they should not see our sig-
nals, whereby the disappointment would only be the
greater. We immediately commenced firing minute
guns, and burning blue lights, which were immediately
answered, and we had the happiness of knowing that they
were seen, and our signals understood. The ship was
fast bearing down to -us. Seven p.m.: She rounded
under our stern, when Lieutenant Temple and myself
went on board to explain our situation. The ship
proved to be the Anna Mooka, from Callao, bound to
Cadiz. Captain Hutchinson promised to render us all
the assistance in his power, and lay by until daylight.
Eight p.m.: Returned, on board again, and sent all
the women on board the Anna Mooka. Daylight .
Captain Hutchinson went round the decks with me,
and examined all the holes that had been cut ; feeling
the heat of the decks, &c. ; his opinion perfectly coin-
ciding with mine and Lieutenant Temple's that she
could not possibly hold out much longer, and that,
as soon as the hatches were lifted, the flames would
ascend. Nothing but the unceasing exertions of the
crew and passengers, and having kept everything bat-
tened down, had kept the ship from being consumed.
before. I immediately sent what live stock, &c., to•
gether with the passengers and some of the troops,
on board the Anna Mooka, keeping on board
sufficient for the boats to carry without being too
deep. After making the boats fast under the ' lee
quarter with one or two hands in to keep them off,
I ordered the hatches to be taken off, when imme-
diately the ship was enveloped in a cloud of smoke.
In less than ten minutes the flames burst up the
main hatchway ; all hands were then ordered to the
boats and to shove off, which had not been done more
than ten minutes before the mainmast fell over the side.
with a loud crash, tearing up the decks and dragging
down the foretopmast and unizen topgallantmast with
it ; in a short time after both fore and rnizenmasts fell.
The ship was now one livid sheet of flame from end to
end, and fast consuming. At dusk,
as near,as we could
tell, she was nearly burned to the water e
s geNine
had
gone
P.m.—Nothing to be seen ; so, concluding shed
down, made sail, and stood to the eastward
seof
LfoireoStot:
Helena. Too much I cannot say in praise
nant Temple, who most ably and cheerfully assisted me,
cheering and stimulating the
day,
under his charge by
his own exertions night and
any rest during the three daysal scarcely ever taking
l nights we were on
the deck of our burning wreck. I also take opportunity
of expressing
thanks to all the passengers for the
cheerful manner in
in which they assisted me in the arduous
duties. I must beg to express our united thanks to
Captain Hutchinson for his kindness and humane con-
duct in rendering us such prompt and efficient assistance,
when every other hope had almost fled, and but for his
Ikindness and humanity many must have suffered eeverely
even after getting,on board his ship.
" HENRY WAL717.11,
Late Commander .or ship Polar Star."'

On the arrival of the crew and passengers at St. Helena,
a subscription was commenced by the inhabitants for
the purchase of clothes and other necessaries for their
immediate wants, and to piocure passages from the

e. <

WRECK OP THE 6RARLOTTE.

TROOP-SHIP.

Another fearful catastrophe at sea to a transport
ship with detachments of the 27th Regiment on
board, bound to Calcutta, from Queenstown, was
made known yesterday at Lloyd's, through private
accounts received at the Jerusalem Coffee-house,
which, it will be seen, was accompanied'.with la-
mentable loss of human life. The unfortunate
vessel was the British ship Charlotte,. of London,
owned by Mr. Mews, timber-merchant, of.ROther,,
hithe, 585 tons burden, and classed in ItloyErd
register as A 1 for 13 years, having been built
in 1844.

" Algoa Bay, Wednesday, Sept. 20.
"The last 24 hours have presented a scene the parallel
to which has never been witnessed in Port Elizabeth. At
a quarter past 5' p.m. 'yesterday the British ship Char-
lotte, Capt. A flb.elt, commander, le ing'in the buy, made
signal that Ehe had parted an anchor and wanted another.
She was from Queenstown, withkdets Chments of the 27th
Regiment, for Cal,cutta, and put into the bay two days
previous tor fresh supplies and water. The ofEcers or
the regiment on hoard w ere Captain Stapylton, Captain
Warner, Lieutenant Maguire, Design White, Dr. Kidd,
138 rank and file, 14 wcmen, and 26 children. her
wants wtre being supplied by the tank-host, but had
not been completed before a heavy sea bloke into the
bay, with moderate southerly wind, which increased
towards noon, and being more to the S.E., a sig-
nal was made from the Pert-dace for the Char-
lotte to -bites her topgallantmasts and yards, and
to be prepared for a gale, which was attended to
immediately. The wind freshened considerably, but
not to such an extent as. to cause any anxiety
for the safety cf the shipping, although the heavy sea
rolling in stopped all communication with .the shore.
On her signalising that she had parted her anchor the
harbour-master replied no assistance couldbe sent to her.
la about an hour afterwards she parted from her second
anchor, and she .was observed drifting ,northward, but
getting all sail on made au attempt to beat out of the bay,
and she stood out to the eastward, apparently making good
way; but, having no foretopsail bent (her topgallant-
masts being struck), it was impossible to stay her. In this
emergency she beat down towards the bight, and although
but dimly, visible; it was too evident she was losing
ground.
At 8 o'clock the vessel stood towards the ship-
ping, and again attempted to wear ; thwwind,,however,
by this time had fallen light, and, drifting, • she went
ashore on the rocks, exactly opposite the flagstaff at the
end of the Jetty-street. As soon as possible tar-barrels
were collected and lighted, to inspire confidence, and
assist in directing operations. Manby's apparatus was
directly brought down, and under the direction of
Lieutenant Simpson, of her Majesty's steamer Hydra,
' a rope was thrown several times over the vessel, but
from some misunderstanding or want of rope the
communication was lost. In the meantime the ship
. was fast settling down on the dangerous reef on
which she struck, and it was evident she would speedily
become a wreck. The lifeboat was then prepared,
and, a crew being collected it was pulled through the
breakers, and made its way, under the charge of Capt.
Salmond, to the wreck. On coming alongside it was
found that every one on board was completely paralysed,
or overcome by the calamity. There several tin the
lifeboat pulled alongside, but there was ao one in a posi-
tion even to cast a line in it, till at length the boat was
driven back and stove amid thedangerous reefs which line
the beach, its crew barely escaping with their li% 03. A
moment of terrible anxiety ensued. It was evident to
all assembled that the noble vessel was fast breaking up ;
the masts had gone, and the sea was making a com-
plete breach over her. By the glare of the watehfires
the hull of the wreck could just be observed, and its deck
crowded -with groups of people—some half-dressed,
and holding forth in their arms infants and children,
screaming to the crowds of people collected on-the
rock, and imploring their help to save them. The ago-
nising cries of the poor creatures announced that the
ship was going to pieces. A great number threw them-
selves overboard ; some were fortunate enough to reach
the shore, but the majority were drowned. At about
1 o'clock the poop and stern parted from the vessel, and
was carried close in shore. A spar from the reizenmast
projected over on to the rook, by which several suc-
ceeded in seeing themselves by slipping down into the
arms of the people. One account states that all col-
lected on the poop were saved. A great number of
soldiers were clinging to the fore part of the wreck. In
less than half an hour afterwards that portion of it
turned completely over, and every soul that was on it
perished. At daylight not a vestige of the ill fated vessel
was to bo been where she was wrecked. A mass of
broken masts and timber, entangled in ropes and torn
sails, strewed the beach. Immediately search was then
made for the bodies of those who had perished. During
the morning 23 were found, a portion of whom were
interred in the church-yard before dark, followed by all
the troops in the garrison and a great number of the in-
habitants. All the children who were en board, except-
ing one, were drowned. Most of the women also pe-
rished. On the survivors being mustered it was ascer-
tained that out of 168 rank and file about 118 were
sowed."

Tne following is a list of those known to be saved, and
it is feared it includes the whole :

Cabin Rtsseizers.—Mrs. Short, M`Cabe, Steward,
Thomson, and Gillan ; Captains Stapylton and Warner,
Lieutenant Maguire, Ensign White, and Dr. Kidd.
Soldiers.—Brown (2), smith, Welsb, Hinds, Flood,
Dunaj, Cout, Collivan, Fitzgibbon, Linch, Forster,
Quiggly, Carr (2), Moran, Dailly, Foy, Somers (2),
M'Cabe, Collings, Lego, Bollard, Thomson,
Robertson (2), M'Koy, Woods, Brown, Brady (3). Way-
land, Donohue, Dolling, Patrick 2.ll‘Kentia, Carson,
Wiliiam•Carr, Allridge, Smith, Hobbs, M'lnroe, Clarke,
Bagot, Burk (2), Couly, Millar, Cassady. Mar-
row, Kicgau, M'Brien, M'Quare, Elliot (3), Kenny,
Lindsay, William Thomson, J. .Rielly (2), Steward, J.
O'Hara, Gillan, Short, Matthew Buslitield, Grant, R.
Smith, Welsh, Barton, Fitzsammonds, Gilbeece, Demp-
soy, Dyer, Ellis, Fair, Fleeney, Ferguson, Henderson,
Kelly, Kernel), Lawlor, Lee, Lennon, Lythe, M`Ma-
nus, M'Serley, Madan, Murrey, O'Hara, Shelton,
Sparks, Taylor, Walker, and Ward.

Of the crew, whirls consisted of 24, only Captain
Affleck, his son, the first mate, ship's butcher, cook,
steward, and two others were saved.
The total drowned is thus stated :

Rank and fire
Women
Children
Crew .

62
11
26
18

Lost ll7
The Charlotte was fully insured at Lloyd's. She had
a general cargo on board.

IVIIITTINGTON CLUB.

A very crowded meeting of the members of the above
Literary Institution, was held yesterday evening in St.
Martin's Hall, in order to deliberate upon the best
means of carrying on the business of the Club during the
interval that must elapse before the effects of the late
calamitous fire can be repaired. The chair was taken by
Mr. Mechi.

The CILIIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, observed
that, although they had met to discuss a great tempo-
rary misfortune, he trusted that through the energetic
action of the members, all that had happened would only
tend to the increased permanent welfare of the Club.
(Hear, hear.) He had looked at their whole case simply
as a matter of business, and looking at the long term
of their lease, and the improving neighbourhood in
which their premises were situated, ho believed that
everything was in their favour, and knowing that union
was strength, it gave him much pleasure to see the
crowded meeting that had responded to the invitation
of the committee.
Mr. TAPP then read the special report of the commit-
liunbsu property
pebrtyytfhore
commit-
tee which, after recapitulating the circumstances of the
late fire, stated that the premises
th
weree c
Duke of Norfolk for 10,0001., and
2,5001. There were 28 years of the lease yet to run
which gave to the club a valuable beneficial,interest:
The premises would of course be rebuilt, but the main
point for them then to consider was how teinporary,
accommodation could be provided during the interval.
They had for the present engaged a room at the Norfolk
Hotel, where the members would find an ample stock of
magazines and newspapers. The committee expressed
their regret at the fact that Mr. Brace, their secretary,'
had been a considerable loser by the fire, and that the
servants had by the same calamity been deprived of all
they possessed. A subscription for their relief had been
opened, and although only two days before the club, a
sum of 401. hod already been collected. (Cheers.)
The report proceeded -to reccommend seyneal tempo-
' rary arrangements. With respect to,fipanee, the
funds
cnoninds-
mittie had to state that at the time of the fire th
were in a most satisfactory condition, the last half-year's
Tsthe of
corn.the
subscription having been 7001. against 3501. for the cor-
responding half-year of 1852. The balanCe inland was
ccclruube had. sustained
by n atotleul tbi
whit
le
altevhilena gmd,eebbnettei
in
wgpmat hi de' 6al
uos ss sthey e
a eti i aY e a small,
I by the fire, believed that it would result in pioviding for
the members increased accommodation. (Cheers.)
Mr. GIBSON moved the adoption of the report, with a
warm eulooitim on the committee for the energy and
promptitude. with which they had met the ernergencY
On Saturday evening the club was full of • members, oi;
Sunday morning it was burned to the ground, and on
Monday morning their committee had provided
them
with, temporary.nbr accommodation.
Air. P IBDseconded the resolution, which was car.
m odation.
ried unanimously.

The several suggestions of the report were then put
seriatim, and after a short conversational discussion
unanimously agreed to.

Thanks Here then given to the committee and secre-
tary, and

Mr. YAIT, in the absence of Mr. Brace, returned
thanks f•ir the latter. He wished it to be known that
to Mr. Bl'aCO'S exertions the whole of the servants, 14 in
number, owed their lives on the occasion of the late fire.
It had been erroneously stated that they were saved by
the firemen, but the fact was that Mr. Brace was tl
person who had at the risk of his own life given them
the alarm.

A vote of thanks to the chairman was then passed by
acclamation, and the proceedings terminated.

THE PENINSULAR MAlLS.—SouTnAlirroN, Thursday.
—The above mails left this afternoon by the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steam ship, Madrid, Captain
Cook. tibe had besides on board, fifty-four passengers,
among,t whom are Count Villa Real and Lieutenant
Gore. The Madrid's freight consists -of 90,5001. in
specie, and a very full cargo. The homeward portion
of this mail will, arrive on or about the 14th inst., by the
Penidaular and Oriental Company's steam-ship, Iberia,
Captsin o,.Boyce. . _. , ~ • -.7