Destruction of a Ship by Fire.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 9, 10 July 1895, Page 2

Destruction of a Ship by Fire.

A FIRE BRIGADE SUPERINTENDENT KILLED. Per Press Association.) Melbourne, July 9. The fire on board the Hilaria started in the morning in the after hatch. 2500 cases of kerosene and two hundred tons of resin were on board. The S. D. Carleton, with fifty thousand cases on board, was close astern and ran great danger of catching but she was towed out in time. The flames spread with immense rapidity, and as it was found impossible to cope with them, it was decided to tow the vessel into the stream. Gee, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, fell down the hold. Another Brignde officer named O'Brien, clad in a smoke jacket, twice descended amidst the flames but was almost overcome and with the greatest difficulty was rescued Gb?, who was fearfully burned, succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile the flames had obtained such a hold that the masts fell and it became impossible to tow her away. The uaan-o'-war Nelson fired eight shots into the hull in order to sink the vessel, but without effect. Eventually she was pumped full of water and sank. An immense croud collected upon the scene and there was great excitement. The origin of the fire, which was not connected with the previous one is a mystery. Since the ship has been discharged the crew has been sleeping on board and some of them bad narrow escapes.