The Post Office IN British Guiana. 211 



governess, awoke at the first alarm of fire and ran on 

 deck in her night-dress, with a blanket thrown over her 

 shoulders. She saw the cutter floating at the side of the 

 steamer and jumped into her, (a distance of fifteen feet) 

 just as the boat was pushing off. The lady lay in the 

 bottom, covered with the i lanket, but gave up her 

 covering when told that it\would make a sail. The 

 sailors however contributed what coats they could spare 

 to cover her, and she sat in the stern-sheets translating 

 their orders to the steersman, who happened to be 

 a Belgian. They pulled through the night and all 

 Sunday, until quite exhausted, when at last they were 

 picked up by the Gertruida, which had just before 

 rescued the pinnace. 



Altogether, five boats were picked up, containing 

 fifty-nine survivors ; the burnt and drowned therefore 

 numbered 102. Mr, Neilson got off with others in the 

 life-boat, which was picked up by the Marsden, but Mr. 

 M'Lennan and Mr. HiCK were never heard of afterwards. 



The news was brought to Demerara on the 12th of 

 February, " throwing a great gloom over the community." 

 All the shipping in the river hoisted their flags at half- 

 mast, as did also the authorities of the Reading Room. 

 The " Gazette" said that "the manner in which that new 

 steamer had been lost was shocking, dreadful, — perfeftly 

 frightful. Of the hundred and fifty-six persons on board 

 not a third were saved. Some were burnt to death, 

 others suffocated in their berths, and others drowned. 

 The fearful scene on board surpassed all description." 

 Hopes were still entertained that Messrs. M'LENNANand 

 Hick might yet be picked up, but they were doomed 

 to be disappointed. 



DD 



