, 1896-02-26
THE BURNING OF THE "AvOCA'
ARRIVAL OF THE CREW.

ARRIVAL OF THE CREW.
This Orning the Captain aud crew of the
Apoca. that some time ago was burnt at sea,
arrived from Batavia by the General Pet.
From Captain Millichap, who was III com
mand of the i'll fated vessel, our representa-
five has obtained the following details Of the
catastrophe. The Aroca left Calcutta with
a cargo Of iute, for Boulogne on October 9th.
All went we'll until the 18th wien, IN lat. 3
s and long. 80 f., the fist indications OF
fire were observed, smoke issuing from one
of the air shafts. Means were at once taken
to subdue what did not threaten to be a very
serious outbreak, and after about an hours
work it seemed as though the efforts OF the
crew were rewarded by success, as the smoke
ceased to appear from that shaft. On taxing
off the maiuhatch, however dense volumes OF
smoke at once enveloped the ship, and though
the cargo in the square OF the hatch appear
ed 70 be quite untouched, the seat OF the con.
aagration was indicated in the fore end.
Hose was got out. and patent extlnguiSherS,
and while these attempts to stay the hre
were made the cargo in the main hold was
iattisoned rs rapidly as possible. The work
was one Of much difficulty and not a little
DANCER as the smoke was binding in its
denseneSS. Again and again the men were
tllINtH Ii'lI NIlCA ! 49, 49,
the day flames were seen issuing from the
lower hold. there was little hope of e%ffectual-
~ preventing the spread Of the fire. Never
thrlcss. all on board stuck m~anfully to their
duty and worked night and day in their
Efforts TO save the ship. Recognising that
= a small chance remained Of conqueI1ng
the dryouIiug element, the Captain headed
the ship. under ali, sail, to the Eastward
steering for the West Coast of Snmatra
which was the nearest land. The three boats
we're provisioned for forty or fifty days, one
being lowered and toWed astern on the first
alarm. and the other two held III readiness
with the davitS swung cupboard. Fortunate
Nv. the weather was brilliantly fine, and the
flames cot little assistance from the Light mrs
that we're blowing. On the 28th, after inces-
SAINT exertions, all the boats were lowered
and tile Captains wife and most Of the crew
left the ship, as, at that time, the torepart of
the vessel was in flames. The Captain and
mate remained on board as long as their ply
sical endurance could stand it and then
abandoned their blazing craft. During the
night of the 2Sth the ship presented a weird
and splendid spectacle, the lurid flames
enveloping her mastS and rising to a height
of thirty or forty teet. ihe 18th, when tile
boats finally left the scene of the calamity
was squalIy and wet, but afterwards the calm
est of weather prevailed and really the only
abnormal discomfort suffered was the intense
heat. The three boats parted company on
the first night, the intention being to make
for PaIang, distant 800 miles in an E. Y. E.
direction. On November lst Capt. Millichap
sighted the second mates boat, but they
again separated on the following day. At
60 on he morning of the 4th November,
The ship Vimeira was signalled, and at 10
o'clock those in the gig were taken on board.
At the same time he second mates boat waa