FIRE ON THE EURASIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 7

FIRE ON THE EURASIA

BLUEJACKETS TO THE RESCUE,

At about 7.30 o'clook last evening fumes of fire were detected on the 'Italian barque Eurasia, lying at the Wool Wharf, and at the same time smoke was observed oozing from- the fore-hatch. The alarm was at once given that the vessel was on fire below, and on the hatches being pulled off a thick cloud of smoke rose on tho still evening air. A party of bluejackets came along to the rescue and in two or three minutes had tho ship's hoses ready for action. As the smoke was too thick to see anything below, a naval smoke helmet was secured and one of the men went below to investigate, backed up by some of his mates, who handled the hoses. It was found that the seat of tho fire was in the 'tween decks'below tho main hold, which was sealed down with hatches covered with tarpaulin. Whilst the hose was being applied to the suspected seat of the fire, the naval electricians ran-wires across tho wharf, and in good time a "bunch" electric light was lowered down the main hold, where it was found that the straw in which the' vessel's cargo of Marseilles tiles was packed waa smouldering menacingly. Had there b?en a draught, below it must have burst into flames, but the play of a couple of strong leads from the wharf quickly ended ail danger of a conflagration, though for half an hour afterwards smoke continued to rise from the hold of the vessel. In the meantime the fire brigade had been summoned, but finding its services were not. needed the motor-en-gine returned to the station. On being questioned, one of tho officers of tho Eurasia said' that work had been going on in.*the i.^ween,,decks,all day, and when the hatches were-put on at 5 p.m. there was no sign of any fire. It is supposed that some of the men must have, been smoking below,- :and inadvertently thrown either some _ embers from a pipe or cigarette or a lighted match amongst tho straw immediately beforo knocking-off time. It was fortunate that both holds were closed up. ■ ■ '