No event within living memory either in Liverpool or on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, has occasioned such universal alarm as was felt last evening in consequence of the explosion of upwards of 11 tons of gunpowder on board a vessel lying in the Mersey off Monks Ferry. The consternation which prevailed through every part of the town, particularly down the south end, rendered it difficult to obtain a complete account of the destruction of property that had taken place.
It appears that yesterday afternoon the barque LOTTY SLEIGH, Captain WEBBER, belonging to Messers HATTON and COOKSON, of Mersey St, left the west side of the King's Dock, with the tide, in charge of the pilot, and proceeded to her anchorage in the Mersey off Monk's Ferry. She was bound for the West Coast of Africa with a general cargo, and had also on board 940 quarter-kegs of powder about 11 tons in weight, which was stowed in the hold of the vessel, immediately beneath the captain's state-room.
Shortly after 6pm last evening the steward of the vessel was in the act of filling a lamp from a can of paraffin oil, when by some means the inflammable liquid became ignited. The can was instantly dropped by the steward, who was horror stricken to see its flaming contents flowing along the cabin floor and instantly igniting the curtains and bed clothes of the captain's sleeping apartment. To arrest its progress was impossible and the fiery stream poured through the grating of the lazarette and communicated with the cargo stored in the after-hold. It was immediately seen that no hope of extinguishing the flames could be entertained.
The Rock Ferry steamer WASP, Captain Joseph HUGHES, left Rock Ferry at 6pm, and as she steamed up the river, the attention of the passengers and crew was excited by a great noise on board the unfortunate ship, which gave the impression in the first place there was murder or mutiny on board. On nearing the vessel they were hailed with cries to come alongside and take off the crew, as the vessel was on fire and there was a great quantity of gunpowder on board. The WASP hove alongside and made haste to the ill-fated ship. The crew immediately jumped on board the steamer, half dressed and in such haste that no one remained to let go the rope by which the steamer was made fast to her, but by a vigorous effort it was "hitched" off the deck of the steamer. The WASSP then took away the crew and landed them at the George's Landing-stage.
Subsequently the NYMPH another Rock Ferry steamer, passing the LOTTY SLEIGH on the way to Rock Ferry, not being aware of the fire on board, and seeing the ship did not display the usual signals of a vessel at anchor, went alongside and hailed her, receiving no answer but the barking of a dog which had been left on board. Captain HUGHES of the WASP, described the sensation of the water as similar to that experienced during a severe storm. The report soon became current that a vessel was in flames on the Mersey, and hundred's flocked to the waters edge to witness the spectacle, but few anticipated the frightful calamity which was soon to involve the owners and occupiers of houses in the serious loss they have sustained. They were in ignorance of the cargo but when they learned the ship was abandoned and so large a quantity of gunpowder was on board they were pale with terror, but transfixed to the spot, as though incapable of taking their eyes from the burning mass, which they expected to see at any moment tossed in the air. The captain of the barque was at this time on shore in Birkenhead and knew nothing of the disaster until about an hour after
The persons in charge of the Woodside steamer Liverpool, seeing the barque on fire went alongside to render assistance, but the Rock Ferry steamer being on the starboard side of the vessel taking the crew off, the men on board shouted to those on the Liverpool to keep a good distance off there being gunpowder on board and they could render no help, the passengers on the Liverpool became greatly excited and the captain got the vessel of the reach of danger as quickly as possible.
About 7.20pm the contents of the vessel blew up with a report hardly possible to describe, the effects in every part of Liverpool were severely felt and created indescribable terror. At the same moment the most solid blocks of warehouses, offices, and private dwellings were shaken to their base, doors locked and bolted were thrown wide open, thousands of squares of glass were smashed, to add to the alarm, the entire line of lamps through the greater portions of the streets were extinguished, rendering it difficult to pass from place to place and jeopardising the safety of those who rushed forth to ascertain the cause of the consternation. The fear was particularly experienced by the poorer inhabitants, who poured forth from court and alley screaming for deliverance from some unknown danger, dragging their helpless children at their heels. Crowds ran this way and that, inquiring what was the cause of the alarm.
The spectacle which the burning vessel presented at the moment of explosion was one of the most frightful, yet grand which could have been witnessed. The flames had enwrapped the whole lower portion of the vessel, but had not burst forth and ignited the rigging. Suddenly a sound that deafens, and makes the earth heave and reel, and bursts upon the ear, the black hull burst forth a hideous volume of flames, illuminating the heavens and casting its lurid light on either shore over the vessels lying at anchor in the Sloyne and the river. High in the air the yards, masts and the whole of the upper portions were thrown and fell like fiery hissing serpents into the waters all around. Bolts, portions of hull, and fragments of the lighter parts of the ship were propelled as far as either shore, some pieces falling on the steam-boats lying near the landing stages. The hull driven into a thousand pieces, and immediately the smoke cleared portions of the burning mass were seen floating down the river with the ebb tide, these were traced for a considerable distance but eventually the lights were extinguished by the water dashing over the,. A portion of the hull floated past the Woodside ferry boat which had to shut off steam to avoid coming into collision with it in the river, a vessel called the RETRIEVER was lying within a few hundred yards of the burning ship, but sustained no injury from the burning spars.
Soon after the explosion Captain SUMNER of the steamtug PHOENIX left the Prince's Landing-stage and proceeded round the burning vessel, visiting the ships in the immediate proximity, one of which was outward bound had received the shock on her quarter, and had her cabin doors and other furniture completely smashed.
No event within living memory either in Liverpool or on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, has occasioned such universal alarm as was felt last evening in consequence of the explosion of upwards of 11 tons of gunpowder on board a vessel lying in the Mersey off Monks Ferry. The consternation which prevailed through every part of the town, particularly down the south end, rendered it difficult to obtain a complete account of the destruction of property that had taken place.
It appears that yesterday afternoon the barque LOTTY SLEIGH, Captain WEBBER, belonging to Messers HATTON and COOKSON, of Mersey St, left the west side of the King's Dock, with the tide, in charge of the pilot, and proceeded to her anchorage in the Mersey off Monk's Ferry. She was bound for the West Coast of Africa with a general cargo, and had also on board 940 quarter-kegs of powder about 11 tons in weight, which was stowed in the hold of the vessel, immediately beneath the captain's state-room.
Shortly after 6pm last evening the steward of the vessel was in the act of filling a lamp from a can of paraffin oil, when by some means the inflammable liquid became ignited. The can was instantly dropped by the steward, who was horror stricken to see its flaming contents flowing along the cabin floor and instantly igniting the curtains and bed clothes of the captain's sleeping apartment. To arrest its progress was impossible and the fiery stream poured through the grating of the lazarette and communicated with the cargo stored in the after-hold. It was immediately seen that no hope of extinguishing the flames could be entertained.
The Rock Ferry steamer WASP, Captain Joseph HUGHES, left Rock Ferry at 6pm, and as she steamed up the river, the attention of the passengers and crew was excited by a great noise on board the unfortunate ship, which gave the impression in the first place there was murder or mutiny on board. On nearing the vessel they were hailed with cries to come alongside and take off the crew, as the vessel was on fire and there was a great quantity of gunpowder on board. The WASP hove alongside and made haste to the ill-fated ship. The crew immediately jumped on board the steamer, half dressed and in such haste that no one remained to let go the rope by which the steamer was made fast to her, but by a vigorous effort it was "hitched" off the deck of the steamer. The WASSP then took away the crew and landed them at the George's Landing-stage.
Subsequently the NYMPH another Rock Ferry steamer, passing the LOTTY SLEIGH on the way to Rock Ferry, not being aware of the fire on board, and seeing the ship did not display the usual signals of a vessel at anchor, went alongside and hailed her, receiving no answer but the barking of a dog which had been left on board. Captain HUGHES of the WASP, described the sensation of the water as similar to that experienced during a severe storm. The report soon became current that a vessel was in flames on the Mersey, and hundred's flocked to the waters edge to witness the spectacle, but few anticipated the frightful calamity which was soon to involve the owners and occupiers of houses in the serious loss they have sustained. They were in ignorance of the cargo but when they learned the ship was abandoned and so large a quantity of gunpowder was on board they were pale with terror, but transfixed to the spot, as though incapable of taking their eyes from the burning mass, which they expected to see at any moment tossed in the air. The captain of the barque was at this time on shore in Birkenhead and knew nothing of the disaster until about an hour after
The persons in charge of the Woodside steamer Liverpool, seeing the barque on fire went alongside to render assistance, but the Rock Ferry steamer being on the starboard side of the vessel taking the crew off, the men on board shouted to those on the Liverpool to keep a good distance off there being gunpowder on board and they could render no help, the passengers on the Liverpool became greatly excited and the captain got the vessel of the reach of danger as quickly as possible.
About 7.20pm the contents of the vessel blew up with a report hardly possible to describe, the effects in every part of Liverpool were severely felt and created indescribable terror. At the same moment the most solid blocks of warehouses, offices, and private dwellings were shaken to their base, doors locked and bolted were thrown wide open, thousands of squares of glass were smashed, to add to the alarm, the entire line of lamps through the greater portions of the streets were extinguished, rendering it difficult to pass from place to place and jeopardising the safety of those who rushed forth to ascertain the cause of the consternation. The fear was particularly experienced by the poorer inhabitants, who poured forth from court and alley screaming for deliverance from some unknown danger, dragging their helpless children at their heels. Crowds ran this way and that, inquiring what was the cause of the alarm.
The spectacle which the burning vessel presented at the moment of explosion was one of the most frightful, yet grand which could have been witnessed. The flames had enwrapped the whole lower portion of the vessel, but had not burst forth and ignited the rigging. Suddenly a sound that deafens, and makes the earth heave and reel, and bursts upon the ear, the black hull burst forth a hideous volume of flames, illuminating the heavens and casting its lurid light on either shore over the vessels lying at anchor in the Sloyne and the river. High in the air the yards, masts and the whole of the upper portions were thrown and fell like fiery hissing serpents into the waters all around. Bolts, portions of hull, and fragments of the lighter parts of the ship were propelled as far as either shore, some pieces falling on the steam-boats lying near the landing stages. The hull driven into a thousand pieces, and immediately the smoke cleared portions of the burning mass were seen floating down the river with the ebb tide, these were traced for a considerable distance but eventually the lights were extinguished by the water dashing over the,. A portion of the hull floated past the Woodside ferry boat which had to shut off steam to avoid coming into collision with it in the river, a vessel called the RETRIEVER was lying within a few hundred yards of the burning ship, but sustained no injury from the burning spars.
Soon after the explosion Captain SUMNER of the steamtug PHOENIX left the Prince's Landing-stage and proceeded round the burning vessel, visiting the ships in the immediate proximity, one of which was outward bound had received the shock on her quarter, and had her cabin doors and other furniture completely smashed.
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