Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-12-30
BURNING OF m SHIP POLAR STAR.

annexed letter giving tntitInS account o.
the destruction By Gre Of the above named
British vessel ana the providensial escape o
her passengers and crsw from an awful
death. The Polar Star was fine clipper
chip OF 600 tons. bonnd 10 New Zealand with
troops and emigrants, in all ninsy-six souls,
among whom were mlny women and chill
dren. For three days anl two nights they
suffered the agonies Of terrible suspense,
IRE and water threatening them
Sunday, Oct. 1. 1854. lat. 81 deg. s., lon.
IS deg. West, a, s A. b., l was alarmed by
the cry Of Are, which was Immediately con-
firmed by the sergeant OF the detachment
Of Royal Artillery, whicI, was on board,
rushing into the cuddy calling 20 his lieu
tenant, "Ths ship is on fire." Iimnsdiate-
" ,ushsd out on deck. sud found the state
ment but too true. On going forward |
found the smoke issuing out oil the fore
hatchway in dense, black cloud. | i'm
snediateiy ordered the helm to be put up,
and let the ship 60 of before the wind
The smoke then began to ascend in thick
black cloud up the main Astchway. All
hands, troops and passengers. ware imme.
diately got to work with pumps and buck
cts to pour water down the Waterways,
il being impossible for any one to ct be.
low.
After working with the water for some
time, and finding that the fire was gaining.
ordered al matches t. be put on, and Sc
curely battensd down, to prevent any cir
from getting below. After getting matches
secured, cleared aw az the launch, and hung
her over the side in the tackles, fearing tho
flames would burst up the hatchway and
consume her. After seeing the boats all
right, we cut holes in the deck, fore and
aft, TO insert tunnels into, being careful to
stop up tho holes when the tunnels were
from on hole to the other. During
the wnsls Of this time no pen can describe
the distraction and confusion among the wo-
men al Gu idren, many OF them with
scarcely any clothing on them, and no posi-
bility Q getting any.
We now found ourselves in a most de-
plorab,s position; for, in addition to having
our ship burned under Us, we found that
xe had neither wateror provisions on deck,
,ne thousand miles away from land, and
bur boats not capable of centanisg more
han two-thirds our number if obliged to
have recourse to them. Noon: crew and
worked increasingly with
pumps and buckets in hopes OF keeping the
IRE under. Observing great deal of
smoke to sscIpe ont OF the topyallant FORE
castle, we immediately filed up all tbs
seams and creyices, and covered ALL over
With wet sail. About p. NJ, made an
attempt to get down through the poop into
the after store.room, and succeeded in
two or three hams, and a ana keg of spir-
is.
At sP. H., divided the troops, passengers
and sailors, into two watches; Lieutenant
Temple taking charge of one vat, b, and
ayself the other. They were then told in
which bsat they would have TO so, in casa
# necessity, so as to have as little confusion
. possible at the last moment. Sixty /
we're named for the launch, twenty two for I
be pinnace, and fourteen for the gig. The 1
vach was then set TO work again, and
.oatinued throughout the night to work in /
essantly aai chsarfuily. A. daylight on
doadav morning, sent one hand up to the !
mast head, hoping som. sail might provi- /
lentially heave in sight, as that was our
MY hope of escape-ths boats being sure
o swamp if made use of. Noon, strong
freeze and a dark, gloomy atmosphere;
Ill hands working most indefatigably,
md making every effort 70 keep the FIRE IN
der.
At P. ~, darknass agiin closed in,
without having seen any sail or signal efde-
livery. Daring this day. oh! how anxious
y every eve was directed round the horizon
10 long 40 blink Of day light remained; bnt
n vain-nothing was to BE- seen shoat bu,
var burning ship, the smoke issuing out from
very aperture where any cir was admitted. 7.
At p. NJ, set the watch again, and re-
ieved each other during the ngat. At
daylight sent another lookout up TO the
but nothing Nwas to be ssen.-
At 6 A. NJ, got some water out OF the tank
ind found it to be almost up 10 tn, boiling
,eat; the deck became very much heated.
Noon, strong breeze and cloudy. Nothing
n sight: crew at work making every effort
o suppress the FIRE and keep it from burst !
ng forth.
At p. NJ, just as night was again Gle
ing in for the third time, and with it al
nost every hope Of any snccor, it pleased
God to bless our eyes and cheer our he arts
with the sight of saip on gu, weather bos.
All hands Immediately rose up and gave
three cheers; but a. darkness was closing
in fast. they were admonshed not to build
their hopes too high, fer fear they should
not see our signal, whereby the disappont-
ment would only be greater. We inmedi-
ately commancsd firing minute guns, and
burning blue lights, which ware promptly
and we had the pleasure Of know
ing that We were seen and oar signals un-
ierstood. The ship was fast bearing down
10 US.
At seven P. u she rounded TO under our
'tern, when Lieut.. Temple and myss If wen,