A SHIP ON FIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1995, 13 November 1888, Page 2

A SHIP ON FIRE.

SCENE OF EXCITEMENTS [Pbb Peebs AsaooiAnON j Jj Napibb. NovWtos* 12. Aboab a quarter-past 10 o'olook the ship Laogstone, lying In the Bay, senfc up rockets and blae lights. Steam wu at once got np on the Waihl. and a message was soon after received that the ship was on fire, apparently In the lower hold. The Spit n>e engine was Imme* dlately Sent out an the Walhl, » Q d the town brigade are mastered with iteam and manual engines if their anlstanoe Is required, and steam la being got np In » tender to take them on. X code of signals has been arranged to signify that they are wanted, or that the fire Is got under. Crowds are on the beaoh, bnt nothing of the fire is visible, The ship Langstone hat nearly completed her loading with a cargo of wool It Is probable that nothing more will be known before the telegraph olduet . Midnight A signal whlob has just been received from the Spit Brigade from the Langstone states that the town Brigade will not be> wanted to-night. This Is not taken to mean that the fire Is got under, as It was arranged that except In case of urgent need the steam fire engine should not be asked for, as the town would, then be left defenceless, The Piako's crew are on board the Langstone, the hatches being battened down, and Whter ponred below from the ship's and Spit's engines, The Captain of the Langetone was In the Theatre Royal at Anderson's performance when the alarm was raised, but he went on board with the Spit Brigade; It Is feared that even if the fire Is extinguished without mnoh damage the oargo willjdao have to be put ont and dried. The insniano* risks cannot be aooertained. It Is a coin* oldenoe that the Piako, wbioh lies alongside, has been twice on fire. The first time, on her maiden voytge, very slight damage was done, bat the second time she had to be run into a Sonth Amerloan. port and sunk, • Laxk& Shortly after midnight rooket gens fired and blue lights burned on board the Langstone indicated that the danger was increasing and arrangements were at once made for getting oK the steam fire engine by the Ahurlrl, which had steam np. Just as the steamer was starting, a boat from the Piako arrived to urge expedition, as the fire was very serious and beyond the manual and ship's engines: The steamer Is now alongside. From shore 1« appears as If fire was breaking through the hatoheß, bnt that Is not certain/ ■Until the steamer started continual guns and rockets were fired, and indicated great urgency for protection. The town high pressure has been turned m all the mains, and parties of firemen will patrol the prlnolpal streets. Namer, November 18. Ihe fire on board the Langatone waa extinguished at 5 a.m. The, hall Is not damaged, bat the deck above where the fire broke out la very Ready burnt through. The amount of water pumped into the ship lowered her forward four feet. The I origin of the fire In unknown. It broke f out by tbo foremast 'tween ddoks, where 1 wool bales were loaded up to the daok.