3-039-228 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Remains of the Dutch steamer Willem III., burnt off the Isle of Wight, 1871. 'The screw steam-ship Willem III., an iron vessel,...was bound to the Dutch colony of Batavia, via the Suez Canal...She had a general Amsterdam cargo for Batavia, with 1100 tons of coals, and had Dutch troops on board, with some other passengers. Fire was discovered on board the ship in one of the state cabins...the fire ...spread with astonishing rapidity through all parts of the ship. Very fortunately, no loss of human life has been caused by this complete destruction of a large steam-ship at sea, crowded with passengers. The fire broke out in sight of land, on a calm night; other vessels were near to render help, and every man, woman, and child found means of escape from the burning ship...Everything that belonged to them had perished in the ship...By direction of Lieutenant-General Lord Templetown, the Dutch soldiers have been allotted quarters in the Anglesea Barracks, Portsea...We are indebted to Lieutenant S. P. Oliver, R.A., for the sketch we have engraved, which he took from on board the tug Cambria while the Willem III. lay on the Arrow Bank'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.