Andreas Wilhelm Helmich

June 3rd, the loss of FALSTER

On this same day a large scale Sacrement was given onboard the ship DOKKEN. Suddenly at 4:30 PM a fire broke out in the frigate FALSTER. The fire was caused by a timberboy’s negligence in handling liquid resin in the forward orlopdeck. In spite of great effort the fire was inextinguishable. Commander Hooglant, together with all commanders, the ambassador and lieutenantcolonel Longueville were all onboard the CHRISTIANSBORG.

Hooglant, with his ship tried to approach the burning FALSTER, but had to give up in order to save the many crewmen in the water who had jumped overboard fleeing the fire on the frigate FALSTER. Launches with fire pumps and water baskets were send from the other ships for assistance. The frigates CHRISTIANSBORG and BLAA HEYREN and the armed ship NEPTUNUS anchored lee of the burning ship, had to cut the anchors at 5 PM, and sail in order avoid the fire. The frigate DOKKEN and the ship FREDERIK and LOVISE stayed at the burning ship.

At 5:30 PM the fire prevented from staying lee of the ship. Commander Hooglant then ordered the cutting of FALSTERS’ anchors in order to set the ship aground. Only small forward sails were set, and Lieutenant Andreas Wilhelm Helmich prepared the rudder. The normal helmsman, able seaman Ewald Claus Henrich then took over, ordered to run the ship aground. But the fire escalated, making it impossible to stay at the quarterdeck. Lieutenant Helmich then ran for the forecastle, but as the main rigging caught fire, and the wind drew the fire further forward, the lieutenant together with 5 men, had to jump overboard. In the water they clung to fallen debris, until their rescue.

Shortly after the mainyard fell on the deck. Able seaman Helmich managed to helm the ship in spite of the fire, until the steering lines were burned. He then jumped over board saving himself in the last minute. The ship then ran aground. At 7 PM the three ships returned anchoring at the same place as before. At 7:45 PM some minor explosion were heard, probably from the grenade magazine.

At 8 PM fire reached the powder magazine and the entire frigate went up “in a violent explosion and fire”. At 9:30 PM Commander Hooglant returned to CHRISTIANSBORG reporting to the squadron commander senior grade commander Lützau. In the following morning lieutenant Stavanger was send to the wreck, but as fired upon from the shore, he did not manage to get on board.

The burning Falster At the fire the following men were lost: Second commander lieutenant Suhm, lieutenant baron Christian Carl Liliencrone and Morten Hirschnack, cadet Konrad Bruun, 3 lieutenant of the Marines together with 125 petty officers and seamen. 23 seamen and soldiers survived, by swimming to a small deserted rocky island. These miserable, naked and wounded men were soon taken as slaves.

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