210 JACK'S LETTERS TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 



The ship was everything that we could wish : and having 

 closed my charge here (Bencoolen) much to my satisfaction, it was 

 one of the happiest days of my life. We were, perhaps, too happy; 

 for in the evening came a sad reverse. Sophia (Lady Raffles) had 

 just gone to bed and I had thrown off half my clothes, when a 

 cry of fire ! fire ! roused us from our calm content, and in five 

 minutes the whole ship was in flames. I ran to examine whence 

 the flames principally issued, and found that the fire had its origin 

 immediately under our cabin. Down with the boats. Where is 

 Sophia? Here. A rope to the side. Lower Lady Raffles. Give 

 her to me, says one. I'll take her, says the Captain. Throw the 

 gunpowder overboard. It cannot be got at: it is in the magazine 

 close to the fire. Stand clear of the powder. Skuttle the water 

 casks. Water! water! Where's Sir Stamford? Come into the 

 boat, Xilson ! Xilson, come into the boat. Push off push off. 

 Stand clear of the after part of the ship. 



All this passed much quicker than I can write it: we pushed 

 off, and as we did so the flames burst out of our cabin-window, 

 and the whole of the after part of the ship was in flames: the 

 masts and sails now taking fire, we moved to a distance sufficient 

 to avoid the immediate explosion ; but the flames were now com- 

 ing out of the main hatchway : and seeing the rest of the crew, 

 with the Captain, still on board we pulled back to her under the 

 bows, so as to be more distant from the powder. As we approached 

 we percieved that the people on board were getting into a boat 

 on the opposite side. She pushed off: we hailed her : Have you 

 all on board? Yes, all, save one. Who is he? Johnson sick in 

 his cot. Can we save him? — Xo, impossible. The flames were 

 issuing from the hatchway; at this moment the poor fellow, 

 scorched, I imagine, by the flames, roared out most lustily, having 



run upon the deck. I will go for him, says the Captain 



he then pulled under the bowsprit of the ship and picked 



the poor fellow up The Captain fortunately 



had a compass and to make the best of 



our misfortune we availed ourselves of the light from the ship 

 to steer a tolerably good course towards the shore. She continued 

 to burn till about midnight, when the saltpetre which she had on 

 board (the powder had blown up towards nine o'clock) took fire, 



illuminating the horizon in every direction to the 



extent of not less than fifty miles. She burnt and continued to 

 flame in this style for about an hour or two, when we lost sight of 



the object in a cloud of smoke At daylight 



we recognised the coast and Rat Island. About eight or nine we 

 saw a ship standing to us from the Roads : they had seen the flames 

 on shore, and sent out vessels to our relief. They gave us a bucket 

 of water, and we took the Captain on board as a pilot. The wind 

 however, was adverse, and we could not reach the shore, and took to 

 the ship where we got some refreshment and shelter from the sun. 

 About two o'clock we landed safe and sound 



Jour. Straits Branch 



