FIRE ON S.S. STORMBIRD

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2003, 10 March 1914, Page 6

FIRE ON S.S. STORMBIRD

TIMELY DISCOVERY.

THE OUTBREAK SUPPRESSED

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, March 0. The. eldest steamer in commission had a narrow escape to-day of terminating her varies! career. Whoa the hatches were, taken off the- Storinbird, the steamer in question, at 0 o'clock this moming for the purpose of discharging cargo, a burst of smoke followed. Captain H'Dravcll took prompt steps to locato the five, which was found to be iii tho fore-hold, lvhert, following the lifting of the hatches, Hames wore seen to be mingling with the smoke, Fortunately, tho lire was practically in an incipient state, and a few jtimutc'B , drenching; with the hose put it out. It was then found that the fire had started in ft couple of cases of sundries ocmtainiHjj tho fortnightly supply of dressings and drugs for the Wanganui Hospital. Thcso wore destroyed, Inxp otherwise the daiaage. (to ' the extent of about £30) was chiefly by water.

The Storrobivd arrived from Wellington yesterday afternoon, and, it beijig Sunday, the hatches, iof course, were not lifted tiil this morning. Captain M'Dovrell is <d opinion that tiro tiro must have teen smouldering for sctno hoars, but tJmt tho tarpaulins stretch' ed over the hatchways had confined tho smoke so that there had been ihj evidence that anything was wrong. A general average is being struck otto tho cargo.