The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-24 00:00:00

S PAP.E R

Across, about where h A
114 .
an her bulk, but not/ :r , o.lfic ''' . , , was
and
towards both ends b' t " :z.4.: •- d :'. 4 con-
sumed round the boy
_,,' -4. s nk''din ed in
height, but several sm-11 - :"i04.-.04.',z.1 the
uv,
cutwater whole and 111. ini;4;)-V-*dy figure
painted white, she had beeZ-paiulbd b%ck, and a
narrow ribbon round her, which I think was yellow,
but could not be certain, as the fire and.
smoke might have turned the colour; she was evi-
dently much lightened, about two streaks of the
metal (which was yellow) out of water.- Took ob-
servations of the sun alongside of her, which gave
the lat. 14 50 N., long. 31 51 45 W. The Ameri-
' can schooner proved to be the Castor, of New York,
from Virginia for Rio de Janeiro. The captain
told me he made out the same letters on the burn-
ing ship's stern that. I afterwards saw for myself,
and have given above. At 9 a.m. filled, made all
sail, and proceeded on -my voyage. Noon—fresh
N.E. breeze, and fine, lat. 15 07 N., long. 32 06
45W.

The Ahem° belonged to Liverpool, was built in
1854, nearly 1,000 tons register, and was classed
A 1 sityears.
at Lloyds,

THE BURNING OF THE PACKET SHIP
ISAAC WRIGHT AT LIVERPOOL.

Yesterday (Thursday) morning, about two o'clock,
some of the officers who were walking on the land-
ing stage at Liverpool, observed several blue lights
and rockets ascending from a vessel in the river ;
and judging this to be a signal for assistance, they
manned a boat and pushed off to a steam-tug then
lying opposite the stage with her steam up, and
asked the captain to run down to the ship. On
getting alongside, the captain of the tug found the
vessel was the Isaac Wright, Capt. Marshall, of
1,500 tons, belonging to Messrs. Baring Brothers'
line, and that she was on fire, the smoke issuing in
dense volumes from various parts of the deck, hatch-
ways, &c. One or two tugs shortly afterwards ar-
rived, and took off all the Isaac Wright's passen-
gers—upwards of 200 on board—who were going
to New York in the unfortunate ship. Mr. Hodgson,
harbour-master, on hearing of the occurrence, gave
directions that the engines from Hatton-garden
and other fire police-stations should be brought to
the landing-stage, shipped on board the steam-tugs,
and conveyed alongside the blazing ship, which was
then burning very rapidly, as the flames could be
seen distinctly from the town. This was done, and
on the arrival of the tugs with the engines they
commenced to play upon the ship, with but little
effect, as the' fire seemed to increase every moment
instead of being siiUdued. In order to take her
out of the line of traffic across the river, some tug-
boats got round her, and towed he up the river as
far as New Ferry, where it was decided that an at-
tempt should be made to scuttle her. In the mean-
time the passengers, who, for the most part, were
in their night clothes, were conveyed to the large
shed on the great landing-stage. The boxes and
luggage of these pour people being in the forepart
of the vessel, where the fire is supposed to have ori-
ginated, are all destroyed, and they are left destitute
of everything but what they stood in. After the
burning ship was brought as close to the shore as the
state of the tide would permit, application was made
to Capt Mends, of her Majesty's ship Hastings, for
the purpose of having the ship fired into, as the
more speedy and effectual means of scuttling her
This was done and the vessel was soon sunk, but in
such a position that at low water she -will be high
and dry. Accommodation will be provided for the
destitute passengers until such time as another
vessel can be got ready for them. The following
letter respecting this unfortunate affair was read
before the Mersey Dock Board yesterday :

" Harbour-Master's Office, Dec. 23,
" Sir,—l beg to report that, at one o'clock this
morning, I was informed there was a vessel on fire
in the river, below the Victoria Tower. On going
to the landing•stage I found a steam-tug going to
the vessel, and went on board her. The vessel on
fire was the Isaac Wright, bound for New York.
The steamer's hose was passed on board, and the
force pump promptly set to work. About half-past
four o'clock a steamer came alongside, with two fire
engines and a staff of police, and were soon in
action. About six o'clock, finding the fire was still
raging in the hold, the cable was slipped, and at
half-past six I left her with four steam-tugs. The
pilot intended to take the vessel into Bootle Bay,
ready for scuttling, should they not be able to
extinguish the fire with the engines.—I am, sir,
your obedient servant,
"T. HODGSON, Harbour-master.
" Daniel Mason, Esq., Superintendent."

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