STEAMER ON FIRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 270, 3 August 1918, Page 8

STEAMER ON FIRE

OIL CARGO ABLAZE

S.S. DEFENDER A TOTAL LOSS i

BURNT TO THE WATER'S EDGE

Blazing from stem to stern the small wooden steamer Defender (185 Ions) became a total loss on the beach at Somes Island yesterday. Her end was sensational and sudden. To load a full cargo of benzine, the Defender was moored alongside an overseas ship at the King's Wharf yesterday morning. The work of transhipping tho cases of oil proceeded without incident until 11 o'clock, when a slight explosion occurred in the ship's hold, which had by this time been stacked with 1200 cases. As smoko continued ■to rise, in increasing quantities the City Fire Brigado was summoned, and on reaching tho wharf tho cases in the hold were seon to bo ablaze. Three leads of hose poured into the Defender, but owing to the cases being saturated with benzine and the awkward position of the ship, it was not possible to subdue the outbreak. The increasing flames not only made the position of the burning steamer dangerous, but they imperilled the safety of tho larger ship. All efforts of the firemen in the hold were of little avail, the fumes being too strong'for them to endure. _ Tho steady flow of water soon made its presence noticeable in another way. Finding its lowest level it wont to the stem of the Defender, and when it was seen that all hope of (suppressing the flames must be abandoned-she was near tho water-level at the stern. Captain J. Dftwson (harbourmaster),, who superintended the rescue work, decided to beach the vessel, and with that end in view n cable wns put across the ship to tow her clear of shipping. At noon tho tug Admiral, assisted by the Karaka, got tho burning ship under way. .The assistance of the Union Company's tug Terawhiti, which stoodiby, was not required. Immediately 'tlie water was cut off the flames, which up to this time had been held in check, increased so rapidly that it was thought advisable to tow tho vessel up the harbour as thero appeared to be no hope of saving her. A dense volume of smoke' followed by a mass of flame covered the ship, which burned furiously while she was being towed towards Petono. At 1 p.m. she was run on a small island at tho northernmost corner of Somes Island, and twenty-five minutes later a cloud of steam shot up into the air, and a few seconds afterwards a heavy rolling report was heard. About a quarter of an hour later a second and less violent explosion occurred. The flames then died down n little, but thick banks of smoke continued to float over Somes Island. As night came on the hull was a seething mass of fiame, and the eea around it was covered with burning oil. In.the t-.i'ternoon ilames had burnt everything lo tho water's edge, so that now litle remains. It is considered that tho engino is ruined and that nothing can Iμ done with what is left. The only injuries received during tho fire were to two waterside -u-orkers on the ship, who were only slightly singed. About 50 cases of oil wero removed from the- vessel after the fire started. Inquiries are now being made as to how the explosion occurred, for che boiler tire and that in the cook s galley were but, the former sinco Thursday night. A magisterial inquiry will probably be held. i The officers nud crew lost all thenbelonging*, and the ship's papers wore also lost. '' . ,', . , As a epectacukr sight, tho burning of the steamer was very lino, and a largo, exciteinent-soeking crowd gathered on the wharves. Motorists and cyclists sped along tho Hntt Road to yet a closer view, and work for the time being was neglected. The crew of the overseas steamer thai is discharging her oil cargo is manned by a Chinese crew, who were- frantic with terror, and it'took strong measures on the part of the officers to bring them to reason and get them to replace the hatch-covers. The Defender was a wooden vessel, built bv G. Frost at Kimcumber, N.S.W., in 1301, for the Westlaml Shipping Company. Ltd. She 6rst enmo to New Zealand about fifteen years ago, nni'l previous to that she had'been trading on the Australian coast. Since the vessel has been in New Zealand she has been to various park of th& coadt, nostly between the West Coast and Wellington, and is known, in most New Zealnnd ports. -Following are her di. mensions:—Length, 118.5 feet; breadth, feet; depth, 7.4 feet. Captain Green, who was in charge of the vessel, only joined her a few days ago, he bavin? relieved Captain Vnsta, who , retired. About ten years ago tho Defender stranded outside Foxton, and had to bo towed to -Wellington for rather extensive re. pairs. Anqther mishap that befel hnt was on tho Karamea Bar, five or six years a«o. The vessel ftranded inside the bar, and nearly six mouths elapsed before she resumed hor running.