The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-13 00:00:00

Burning of the Ship Maranoa at Sea.

The long list of casualties in connection with Bombay
shipping during the present year is now increased by the
burning of the ill-fated ship Maranoa nine days after leav-
ing Bombay, but fortunately unaccompanied by tho circum-
stances of distress usually attendant upon the burning of a
ship at sea.

The Maranoa, Captain Birch, left Bombay on Nov. 6,
with a cargo of coals for Aden. She experienced fine
weather and a fair wind until the 14th, up to which time all
wont well. On this date the wind dropped and a calm en-
sued, the heat of the weather being excessive. During the
day steam was observed coming up the hatches, when an
immediate examination of the cargo was made, but nothing
was discovered to lead to the conclusion that the coal was
on fire ; all appeared perfectly safe, and the hold was quite
cool.

' At 4 a.m. the next morning, the 15th, it was noticed
that very little steam was coming up the hatches, but at
daylight it was observed that the- steam began to assume
the appearance of smoke, and about the same time a mo-
derate breeze sprang up. At six o'clock it was ascertained
beyond doubt that it was smoke coming up from below,
and the terrible reality broke upon them that the cargo
was on fire. In order to be prepared for any emer-
gency that m;ght arise, two water casks on the deck
were immediately filled with fresh water. Shortly after-
wards the cook, who was going aft towards the captain's
cabin, perceived flames coming up the after ventilator,
which he immediately reported to the captain, who had
remained on deck nearly the whole night from apprehen-
sions of danger. The captain immediately ordered the
hatches to be battened down, in order if possible to stifle
the flames, and assembled the entire crew to acquaint them
with their position. Ho then divided them into gangs.
The first was placed under the orders of Mr. Cowell, the
Ist officer, who was directed to get the boats out; the
second gang, under the direction of the steward, was ap-
pointed to gel provisions and water in readiness for the
boats ; while another was employed in passing water on to
the alter hatch, it having burned through a few minutes
after being battened down. It was then found necessary
to place all the spare sails over the hatch in order to get the
boats off the skids, which were directly over the after hatch.
Tho fourth gang was occupied, under the direction of the
fourth officer, in getting the topgallant studding sails out
of the tops to make sails for the boats. By half-past 9 the
chronometer, compasses, the crew's kit, and a supply of
provisions had been passed into the boats. Having only a
limited quantity of fresh water, an attempt was now made
to get a supply from below. The head pump pipe was cut
away as far down as possible, when the Ist officer and a
seaman named James Roach volunteered to proceed below
and place the end in a water cask, which they succeeded
in doing, although the smoke was most dense at the time
At that moment the hatches blew up with a loud explo-
sion, when flames and dense volumes of smoke issued from
all the hatches. The crew were then called aft, and held
in readiness to get into the boats. By noon flames were
breaking out all over the ship, and the masts and sails
then caught fire. The crew immediately took to the
boats ; the flames in the meantime were found breaking
out of the ship's side within a foot of the water-line. At
half-past twelve the boats were compelled tä cast off from
the ship in order to avoid being swamped by the falling
masts and spars. Ten minutes afterwards the main-
mast fell by the board, the boats meanwhile lying
on their oars to watch the progress of the flames. Au
hour afterwards the mizenmast fell over, the side, and at
three o'clock the foremast fell, taking with it the jibboom.
As nothing was to be gained by staying lover by the
burning vessel, the captain considered how best to provide
for the safety of the crew. They were then in lat. 15.41
N., and long. 58.34 E., or about 700 miles from Bombay.
To have returned to the latter place would have been im-
possible, owing to head winds, and it was therefore de-
cided to steer for Aden (about 900 miles.) Sails were at
cnco rigged, and in order to keep together, all the boats
were taken in tow of the long boat. At nine o'clock the
same evening it was found necessary to cast adrift the
second cutter, it being leaky, and three men being found
insufficient to keep it afloat. At midnight the ship had
burnt down to the water's edge, and at four o'clock tho
flames suddenly disappearing, it was then known that she
must have gone down. At daylight no traces of her
could be seen.

During the whole day the boats continued their course
without a vessel appearing in sight. No vessel was seen
either on the following day ; the boats continued in tow of
the long boat ; the provisions were served out at regular
hours, but it was found necessary to restrict the water to
one quart for each man per day. On the 18th they ex-
perienced v, moderate E.N.E. wind, but no sail appeared in
sight. At daylight on the 19th they sighted Rast Fertak,
bearing N.N.W., and about 40 miles distant. It was found
necessary to still further restrict the supply of fresh water
to one pint and a half per day for each min. On the even-
ing of the 19th the breeze freshened and the sea rose,
during which the stern of the gig was dragged out, and her
provisions and crew had to be transferred to the other
boats, the injured boat being cast adrift. This day
and the next were both passed without any vessels being
sighted, but on the morning of the 21st a vessel its ob-
served bearing south. They trimmed sails and put out all
the oars to overtake her, which they accomplished in two
hours, when she proved to be a native bungalow. They
obtained a supply of water, and parted company at nine
o'clock, being then abreast of Macullait, and made all sail
again for Aden. No other vessels were seen during the
remainder of the day, and at daylight the next morning
(the 22d) land was seen a long way off. During the day
several birds alighted on the toat and remained.
At noon the smoke from a steamer was observed,
bearing S. W. by S. 'Sails were trimmed in order to ap-
proach her, and the oars got out to assist their progress.
The ensign was also placed at the masthead of the
Union" down as a signal of dis-
tress.was now intense, but it
wasl o ng
- soon b e
The a long-boat,relieved,
anxietywithfore
of
the crew
by the steamer changing its course
and bearing down for the boats it was known that their
asilgonngalsiodfe
wdishtartesaspphead arebdeteon
boob stehrve
Peden.
inty Ilar.2aondthoeyriewnetrael
Company's mail steamer Malta. The captain of thellaranoa,
probably thinking it hopeless to expect so many to be taken
on board the mail steamer, merelyasked to be supplied with
water, and to be allowed to continuo their voyage to Aden.
This, however, Capt. Hyde of the Malta would not listen
to. It appears that before reaching the boats they had ar-
rived at the conclusion that their services would be required,
and after consulting Captain Black it was decided to bring
all the crew on to Bombay. The preparations had already
been made, and tackle for raising the boats prepared ; and
before Captain Birch had time to express regret that
his boats would have to be cast adrift, they were hauled on
deck, and the mail steamer was again proceeding on her
voyage, but little more than two hours having elapsed since
the steamer was first sighted.

The crew of the Maranoa, numbering in all 31, had thus
been more than a week in open boats, during which they
had proceeded over 800 miles, and had arrived within 160
miles of Aden. During this time the whole of the crew
behaved most courageously, not a murmur having escaped
any of them. They aro loud in their praises of the kindness
shown them by the crow and passengers of the Malta.
The men of the Maranoa were fortunate in saving all
their kit, but the captatn has been a heavy loser by the
dreadful calamity which has overtaken his ship. A sub-
scription was raised on board the Malta for the relief of the
sufferers. The idea was suggested by Captain Hyde, and
so warmly commanded the sympathy of Mrs. Black, that
Rs. 700 were collected, the list being headed by his Ex-
cellency Sir Robert Napier. Of this sum it is proposed to
give Captain Birch Rs. 200, owing to his heavy losses, the
remainder to be delivered among the crew. At dinner on
Wednesday evening a letter was read from the captain
acknowledging, on behalf of himself and crew, the great
kindness and liberality shown by the passengers and officers
of the Malta.

• The cause of the burning of the Maranon, appears to
have been spontaneous combustion. The vessel was owned
by Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., of Liverpool, the Bom-
bay agents being Messrs. Wallace and Co. She was insured
for £16,000, and had been chartered, as above stated, to
convey 2,000 tons of coal to Aden for the use of the
i Bom-
bay and Bengal Steamship Company, which cargo s also
insured.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE—Last Evening.
Amsterdam Short. 11 18 11 19
Ditto 3 Mouths. 12 21 12 21
Rotterdam
Antwerp — 23 47 25 55
Brussels
Hamburg
Paris — 13 91 13
Short 25 12i, DI
••25 17
Ditto ........................ 3 Months. 25
50471, 25 52
Marseilles .................. 25
25 55
Frankfort on the Maine 1203...
121
Vienna — 10 85 10 90

Trieste
Petersburgh
Berlin

10. 6
20
6 28i

10 921
30
6 28!