3-021-074 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Burning of the Omar Pacha, Australian ship, homeward bound, 1869. Passenger and cargo ship destroyed by fire in the North Atlantic. 'She was laden with wool and other colonial produce...on April 22...fire broke out in her hold...so rapidly did the flames extend, from the inflammable nature of the cargo, that by eleven o'clock the ship was burning from stem to stern, the labour of all the crew and male passengers at the pumps and buckets having failed to subdue the fire. An Italian barque...had fortunately seen their signals of distress, and had come to their relief...When all hope of saving [her] was given up, and the heat and smoke made it difficult to stay on board, the passengers, the women and children first, with such luggage and provisions as could be got at, were removed in boats to the Italian vessel...Captain Grey, with a gang of his men, continued to work on board, trying to save the ship's stores, till half-past one...when they were at length compelled to quit the Omar Pacha...The fire which consumed her arose from spontaneous combustion, and though every means was used to check its progress, all failed. Her cargo, which with the ship was insured, was valued at over £200,000'. All 34 crew members and 64 passengers were saved. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.