To the Editor of the London Shipping and Mercantile Gazette.

Sir,

It is my painful duty to inform you of the loss of the Mary White. barque, by fire, on the 17th May, [1851] in lat. 37� 2' N. long 29� 30'. W. The above vessel was from Sydney, New South Wales, and bound to London, with a cargo of wool, oil, tallow, &c. The following is an extract from the log:

Midnight, May 14, nautical time. The chief officer came to me and reported the ship on fire, from the appearance of smoke filling the forecastle. I immediately went to examine, and found, as reported, the forecastle full of smoke or steam, but every place we could get at perfectly cool, so that no idea could be formed of where the fire could be situated ; indeed I doubted there being fire at all, but supposed the appearance observed to be steam or vapour arising from the damp bones and hides that were in the lower hold. However, as there was considerable alarm among the crew and passengers, I ordered the people on deck, and secured the scuttle or hatchway down, and immediately got the boats ready for the worst.

May 15: The appearance of fire about the same, until about midnight, when there appeared a difference in the feel of the smoke, which increased very fast, sending forth a strong smell of burning wool ; the greater part of this time fresh breeze, and ran from S. to S.S.E.

May 16, noon : All this day moderate breeze, and for the most part rain ; the smoke and smell of fire gradually increased ; Terceira bearing N. 38, E. 240 miles.

May 17 : P.M., moderate breeze, and cloudy, the appearance of fire about the same, the smoke filling fore peak and forecastle, and continuing to increase till 9 P.M. when it burst out through every place it could find vent about the foremast and forescuttle, and we then found the fire was about the foremast, as it burnt the coat through, and discovered the mast on fire. I immediately got the long-boat out, and provisions and water into her, and towed her alongside, all ready to get into her at the shortest notice ; there being an appearance of a strong breeze, shortened sail to the topsails and jib, but shortly after, the clouds passing over with little rain, made sail again gradually, till as the day broke had all plain sail set. The fire increased rapidly, in spite of every opposition, bursting out alongside the foremast, where a quantity of sperm oil was stowed. About 5-30 A.M. a sail hove in sight astern.

Shortly after wore ship and ran towards her; she proved to be the Russian brig Preciosa, from Rio for Abo in Finland. As we closed, I sent the chief officer with the small boat, to ask the master if he would take the passengers on board, and keep us company for a while, to see if we could get the vessel into port, the Western Islands being the nearest. Shortly after the boat was gone the fire burst out so rapidly about the foremast that I deemed it prudent to send the passengers away ; the master kindly received them, giving up his own cabin to a lady passenger and her husband, and sent his boat in company with ours to assist us in saving what few articles of provisions and clothes could be got at conveniently, as he was full of cargo, and had no room for receiving anything else, had we been able to save it.

Before we could get these things into the boats I ordered the foremast to be cut away, as I feared the fire getting aloft and stopping us from doing so. The lanyards being cut the mast went over immediately, taking the main and mizen topmasts with it. We then saved few articles, but the fire making such rapid progress, we were obliged to leave the vessel, being at the time one body of fire from the forehatch forward, and with about seven feet water in the hold. For some hours previous to leaving, the pumps were kept going, throwing up quantities of liquid tallow.

We were conveyed to Fayal in the brig, and part of the crew and passengers landed under quarantine, on account of the brig coming from Rio ; the remainder have come to England in the brig, the master of which would have brought the whole, but the ship being so full could not do on. The crew and passengers, feeling grateful to Mr. Weikmann, master of the Preciosa, for his humane conduct, and liberality in supplying them with necessaries, besides saving their lives, have testified the same in a memorial, and hope the benevolent public will reward him, as it is out of our power to do so.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
J. H. Walker,
Late Master of the Mary White.

P.S. I beg leave to add that I have received a testimonial from the crew and passengers for my exertions and able conduct, through which their lives were spared.

J. H. W.

SG & SGTL Vol. 8 p. 278

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