The Burning of the Immigrant Ship 'Polar Star'
Melbourne Herald February 28th 1855 (reprinted Wellington Independent March 31st 1855)

Passenger List for the Polar Star - Sincere thanks to Peter Caves
Newspaper Reports from the St Helena Herald - Sincere thanks to Peter Caves

On October 1st 1854 the immigrant ship Polar Star, on its way to New Zealand, caught fire in the south Atlantic, west of Cape Town and well out of sight of land. All on board fought well in their attempts to starve the fire of oxygen and prevent it from taking hold of the ship. Eventually, after three frightening days during which they all expected to burn up in a sheet of flames or sink with the ship at any moment, a sail was sighted on the horizon. This was shortly before dark on the 3rd day of the danger. Had it been but two hours later the rescuing vessel may very well have sailed by, oblivious to the plight of passengers, crew and troops on board the Polar Star. As it happened, they were saved and carried to the island of St Helena. It was on this South Atlantic island that Napoleon was finally imprisoned and died and where Francois le Lievre, aboard the ship Compte de Paris, made a brief stopover on the settlement voyage from Rochefort, France to Akaroa on Banks Peninsula in 1840. Francois had taken some Willow-tree cuttings from Naopleons grave and was to re-plant them at Akaroa.

Loss of the ship Polar Star by fire - The chilling details of the destruction by fire of the Polar Star, Walker, from London for New Zealand, and of the safe arrival of the crew and passengers at St Helena, by the Anna Mooko (Annamooka), Hutchinson, from Callao, have been received from the Captain.

Sunday, October 1st, 1854 - lat 31⁰ 00' S: long 25⁰ 00' W.
Day One
Sunday, Oct., 1, 1854, latitude 31 S., longitude 55 (actually 25) W., at 8 a.m. I was alarmed by the cry of fire, which was immediately confirmed by the sergeant of the detachment of Royal Artillery, which were on board, rushing into the cuddy, calling to his lieutenant, "The ship is on fire, Sir!" I immediately rushed out on deck, and found the statement but too true. On going forward, I found the smoke issuing out of the fore hatchway in a dense black cloud. I immediately ordered the helm to be put up and let the ship to go off before the wind. The smoke then began to ascend in a thick black cloud up the main hatchway. All hands, troops and passengers , were immediately set to work with pumps and buckets to pour water down the hatchway, it being impossible for anyone to get below. After working with the water some time , and finding that the fire was gaining, I ordered all the hatches to be put on and securely battened down, to prevent any air from getting below. After getting hatches secured, cleared away the launch and hung her over the side with tackles, fearing the flames would burst up the hatchway and consume her. After seeing the boats alright we cut holes in the deck, fore and aft, to insert funnels, being careful to stop up the holes when the funnels were removed from one hole to another. During the whole of this time no pen can describe the distraction and confusion amongst the women and children - many of them with scarcely any clothing on at the time, and no possibility of getting any. We now found ourselves in a most deplorable position; for, in addition to having our ship burning under us, we found that we had neither water nor provisions on deck, a thousand miles from land, and our boats not capable of containing more than two-thirds our number, if obliged to have recourse to them.

Noon - crew and passengers working unceasingly with pumps and buckets in the hopes of keeping the fire under. Observing a great deal deal of smoke to escape out of the top-gallant forecastle, we immediately filled up all the seams and crevices and covered all over with a wet sail.

About 4 pm - made an attempt to get down through the poop into the after store room, and succeeded in getting up two or three bags of biscuits, two or three hams, and a small keg of spirits.

8 pm - divided the troops, passengers and sailors into two watches. Lieutenant Temple taking charge of one watch, and myself the other. They were then told into which boat they would have to go in case of necessity, so as to have as little confusion as possible at last as possible. Sixty were named for the launch, 22 for the pinnace, and 14 for the gig. The watch was then set to work again, and continued throughout the night to work incessantly and cheerfully.

Day Two
At daylight on Monday morning - sent one hand up to the mast head, hoping some sail might providentially heave in sight, as that was our only hope of escape, the boats being sure to swamp if made use of.

Noon - strong breeze and a dark gloomy atmosphere, all hands working most indefatigably and making every effort to keep the fire under.

6 pm - darkness again closing in without having seen any sail or signs of delivery. Oh, how anxiously was every eye directed around the horizon so long as a blink of daylight remained. But in vain. Nothing was to be seen afloat but our buring ship, the smoke issuing out of every aperture where any air was admitted. 8 pm - set the watch again, and relieved each other during the night.

Day Three
Daylight - sent another look out to the mast head, but nothing was to be seen.

6 am - got some water out of the tank, and found it almost to be up to boiling heat; the decks becoming very much heated.

Noon - strong breeze and cloudy, nothing in sight, crew all at work making every effort to suppress the fire and keep it from bursting forth.

6 pm - just as night was closing in for the third, and with it almost every hope of succour, it pleased God to bless our sight and cheer our hearts with the sight of a ship on our weather bow. All hands immediately got up and gave three but, as darkness was closing fast, they were admonished not to buid their hopes too high for fear they should not see our signals, whereby the disappointment would only be the greater. We immediately commenced firing minute guns and buring blue lights which were immediately answered and we had the happiness of knowing that we were seen and our signals understood. The ship was fast bearing down on us.

7 pm - She rounded to under our stern, when Lieutenant Temple and myself went on board to explain our situation. The ship proved to be the Anna Mooko, from Callao, bound to Cadiz. Captain Hutchinson promised to render us all the assistance in his power and lay by until daylight.

8 pm - Returned on board again, and sent all the women on board the Anna Mooka.

Day Four
Daylight - Captain Hutchinson went round the decks with me and examined all the holes that had been cut, feelingthe heat of the decks &c., his opinion perfectly coincided with mine and Lieut., Temple's that she could not possibly hold out much longer, and that as soon as the hatches were lifted the flames would ascend. Nothing but the unceasing exertions of the crew and passengers, and having kept everything battened down, had kept the ship from being consumed before. I immediately sent the live stock, &c., together with the passengers and some of the troops, on board the Anna Mooka, keeping on board sufficient for the boats to carry without being too deep. After making the boats fast under the lee quarter, with one or two hands in to keep them off, I ordered the hatches to be taken off, when immediately the ship was enveloped in a cloud of smoke. In less than ten minutes the flames burst up the main hatchways; all hands were then ordered to the boats, and to shove off, and which had not been done more than ten minutes before the mainmast fell over the side with a loud crash, tearing up the decks and dragging down the fore topmast and mizzen topgallantmast with it; in a short time after, both fore and mizzenmasts fell. The ship was now one live sheet of flame from end to end and fast consuming. At dusk, as near as we can tell, she was nearly burnt to the waters edge.

9 pm - Nothing to be seen; so concluding she had gone down, made sail and stood to eastward of St Helena. We are pleased to learn that on the arrival of the crew and passengers at St Helena a subscription was commenced by the inhabitants, for the purchase of clothes and other necessaries for their immediate wants and to procure passages from the island.
- Melbourne Herald, Feb 28

Copyright Denise & Peter 2005

Reference
Wellington Independent February 28th 1855