THE WAIRARAPA FIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1316, 3 November 1885, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA FIRE.

(By Telegraph ) Gisbo tNB, To-day. A passenger gives the following narrative of the fira on beard the Wairarapa: As soon as the alarm was given he rnshed into the alley-way and saw the fire coming through the bulkhead on aft sideflof the alley-way, which crosses the ship at this part. The fire was a seething mass of white flame and must have been burning some time on the other side of the partition before the alarm was given. Some of the passengers were, with difficulty, aroused from the stupor produced by the smoke. The ladies were particularly unfortunate, the greater number sleeping in single garments, bat were quickly supplied with blankets. He thinks there was great neg act somewaerd, for it was not till the fire had a firm hold and had burnt through the partition that any alarm was given, and ten (an ?) hours more delay would have been death to many. I Hat a watch been kept below the file j would have been discovered earlier, and I extinguished with little difficulty. He I says the boats carried by these large pas- I senger steamers are quite inadequate to I accommodate the large numbe of passen- I gers carried. A rough computation has I been made, from which it is estimated I that the clothing, money, watches, I luggage, and efleots lost by the passengers I would be about L 2,000 Borne lost all I their clothes but what they stood up in. I One man stated he.recovered his pocket I book but some notes were taken from it.