Burning of the OMAR PACHA, Australian immigrant ship, homeward bound

Maker Illustrated London News (Established 1842)

Date1869

Object number00001145

NameEngraving

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 180 x 250 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Janet West

Terms

DescriptionAn engraving from the Illustrated London News, 29 May 1869, titled 'Burning of the OMAR PACHA, Australian immigrant ship, homeward bound'.HistoryGlasgow Herald, 21/05/1869: OMAR PASHA left Moreton Bay [Queensland] 1 February with her full complement of passengers, which with crew made 84 souls. She was laden with wool and other colonial produce and all went well until 22 April, when fire broke out in the hold at 4.30am - so rapidly did the flames spread, owing to inflammable nature of cargo, that by 11.00am ship was burning from stem to stern and in 7 hours after she went down. Some time previously Captain, crew and passengers got into the boats and on the same day were picked up by an Italian barque bound for New York. They remained on board her until 26th when four vessels were fallen in with, which took them off. All crew and passengers thus saved. 53 souls including Captain Grey were landed by full rigged ship ZEALANDIA at Cork. They were almost entirely destitute of wearing apparel or money. The rapidity of the fire barely allowing them to escape with their lives. In Queenstown all necessaries were supplied to them and they left on Tuesday night for England. OMAR PASHA had no specie [gold] aboard.