65

D.—2

of firo or other matter to attract attention. Deponent had been below about three-quarters of an hour, when he was aroused by the cry of fire, jumped out of his berth, and rushed on deck undressed; met the master at the cuddy door in his shirt, who ordered the deponent forward to inquire the cause of alarm. Deponent rushed forward and saw a dense smoke coining up the fore scuttle. The chief officer was getting the fire-engine to work. The passengers and crew were all rushing on deck. The cry was, that the fire was coming up the boatswain's locker. Deponent returned aft, and assisted the master to endeavour to get the vessel before the wind, but the vessel had no steerage way. In a few minutes the flames came up the forecastle, and the foresail was hauled up. The vessel now came up head to wind, which drove the smoke aft, the flames bursting up the fore hatchway. The master sent for deponent, and asked if it were possible to get volunteers to see whore the fire was. It was impossible, as the smoke was suffocating. Deponent asked the master if he should put the boats out; the master said " No, but do as much as you can to put the fire out." The foremast boats had by this time caught fire. The flames were now coming up the main hatchway. Deponent sent men to clear away the boats on the skids. The starboard quarter boat was now lowered, and about eighty, mostly women, got into it, the davits bending with their weight. As the boat touched the water she turned over, and the people were all drowned. Hencoops and other movables were thrown over, but it was of no avail to save life. Deponent now stationed two men at the port boat, to prevent any one lowering except by the master's orders. The officers now made the attempt to get the long-boat overboard, but there was too much confusion to get proper help; her bows caught fire, and she was abandoned; and there was a rush for the port life-boat, which was lowered, and about thirty or forty people got into her. Deponent slid down, and got on board by the fore tackle. The boat was kept clear of the ship. The chief mate and a female jumped overboard and wore picked up. By the time the boat got clear of the ship the main-mast fell overboard. Shortly after the stem blew out, and then the mizen-mast fell. After first speaking to the master, deponent got the signal ammunition thrown overboard. At daylight the starboard life-boat was found full of people. Deponent heard shouts for an officer to take charge of her. Got alongside and took charge. Thomas Lewis, A.8., Edward Cotter, 0.5., and Mr. Bentley, an emigrant, also got into boat with deponent. The gear remaining in the boat was divided between them, deponent's vessel getting one oar and a broken one. The two boats kept company, hovering round the burning ship the whole of the day, and until the afternoon of the 19th, when the ship sank. There were thirty people in deponent's boat and thirty-two in the mate's boat. As had been agreed with the chief officer, deponent then kept to the N.E., for the Cape of Good Hope, as did the other boat. The boats kept company all the 20th and 21st November, when it commenced to blow, and they separated. We were without provisions or water, or mast or sail, and had but one oar and a half. The wind was southerly, and, by taking one of the footlings, they managed to rig a sail with a girl's petticoat, and so kept the boat her course. The boat contained the baker, emigrants' cook, three A.B.s, one 0.5., and twenty-three passengers, with deponent, making in all thirty people. The other boat contained the chief mate, four A.B.s, one 0.5., the butcher, and twenty-six passengers, including one baby, aged eleven days. The people rapidly sank from want of food and water, and by the 25th were reduced to eight in number, three of these out of their mind. On the 26th, before daylight, a barque passed, which they hailed, but were unseen. On the 27th, they were picked up by the ship "British Sceptre," of Liverpool, and the five people then remaining alive were received on board, and treated with every kindness. Two, however (Robert Hamilton, A.8., and one passenger, name unknown), died before reaching St. Helena, leaving myself, Thomas Lewis, and Edward Cotter, 0.5., as far as I know, the only survivors. Deponent considers that all the gear was regularly kept in the boats, and that it must have got thrown out in the confusion. The oils used for the side lights and for the lights in the cuddy were kept in the port quarter gallery. The crew, including deponent, had lucifer matches, with which they used to light the lamps when necessary. The boatswain was the ouly man having access to the boatswain's locker, of which he kept the key. Nothing was kept there but the stores already enumerated, and deponent does not know whether the boatswain had been there that day. There was one ordinary seaman (Pillow) told off to go into the coal-hole every day to fill the baskets, which were hoisted up by the emigrants. No other person was allowed to go into the coal-hole, and deponent, who used frequently to talk to him about the coals and their running out, heard no remark as to their heating or smell. Pillow was a steady, intelligent young man. Deponent can give no reason how the fire originated. That the above contents are in all respects correct and true according to the best of deponent's knowledge and belief. Heney McDonald, 9, Piggott Street, Limehouse, E., and 45, Castle Street, Montrose, Eorfarshire. Sworn at the Custom House, London, 2nd January, 1875, before me—J. C. Stocktok, Receiver of Wreck. Edward Cotter, O.S. of ship " Cospatrick," says: —That he was ordinary seaman of ship " Cospatrick," of the Port of London, 1,200 tons register, and her official number being 20400; that said ship was owned by Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., residing at No. 34, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London; that said ship was rigged as a «hip, and built of wood ; that crew consisted of fortyfour hands; that said ship had on board a general cargo, shipped by Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co., of London, and consigned to various consignees of Auckland; that said ship proceeded from London on 11th September, at 5 a.m., the tide last-quarter flood, weather fine, and wind blowing a moderate breeze ; that deponent was in the second mate's watch; the crew were sober, and attentive to their duties. Deponent had been told off' to the port launch, foremost boat, which was in good condition when the vessel sailed, and well found with gear, five oars, mast, breaker, with water, &c. ; that on Tuesday, 17th November, at 12 p.m., the weather fine, and the wind in the N.N.W., blowing a light air, the said ship was in the Southern Ocean, oft' the Cape. Deponent had boon on watch from eight till twelve, when ho was relieved, and went to his bunk, which was right forward. When he turned in, there were no indications of smoke or smell of fire. At about a quarter to one a.m. of the 18th 9—D. 2.