Fire on the Mararoa.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 97, 18 October 1894, Page 2

Fire on the Mararoa.

DEATH OF\ FIREMAN. INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED. | Per Press Association] Port Chalmers, Oct. 17. A fire broke oat on board the Mararoa at 3.30 while undergoing her periodical overhaul. Foreman Shakesly, of the Port Brigade was seized with faintness while working in the Mararoa's engine room, and died on reaching the deck. The chief officer, Mr Meredith, thinks he was the last person in the engine room last night. There was then no fire in the furnace, everything was apparently safe. The engine room is close to the forecastle, -where the fire broke out. The doors from the fireman's quarters in the forecastle to the engine room were left open as usual for tho purpose of giving access in case of fire. There is little doubt that the fire originated in one of the bunks, and not in the engine room. Mr Alfred Shakesley, foreman of the local brigade, was working aboard the Tavinuiin the graving dock when tlie alarm was given. Proceeding to the scene he went down into the Mararoa's engine room with his comrades, but after being there a short time, he complained of feeling very hot and queer. He was persuaded to go on deck, and on reaching the wharf he succumbed and fell. Medical assistance was summoned, but life was extinct. The doc tor's opinion is that failure of the heart's action was tho cause of death. Deceased was 43 years of age and leaves a widow and two children. Mr Shakesley had suffered from influenza, leaving his heart weak, and his death is attributed to this cause, and accelerated by over exertion and excitement. ' ' - ' The circumstances of the fire tpuift strongly it^MlM The Mararoa i^ valued at ,660,000. As a rule with the Company half that amount is held by itself and the other half is in the. London offloe. The general impression iv shipping circles at Port Chalmers is that the fire is the work of some tramp, who may also have started the five in the Tavinui in the graving dock. In the Mararoa's case only a person familiar with the run of the shin could havo got to the place where the fire started without breaking hi*, neck.