FIRE ON THE WAIMATE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 6 December 1901, Page 4

FIRE ON THE WAIMATE.

[per press association]

Napibb, December 5,

The fire on the Waimatc, which was thought had been successfully coped with on Wednesday night burst out again at 3 30 o'clock this morning amongst the flax in No 4 hold. The work of driving in steam, which had been going on all night was then stopped and the Napier and Spit fire brigades with their engines set to work again to pump water into the hold. The seat of the fire was located, and the stream of water had its effect, but it was deemed advisable to make matters fully secure and to send for the Hasting's fire brigade engine, which is a very powerful one, and when it arrived the three engines were pumping witer into the hold at the r.ifca of 84,000 gallons p:T hour. By 5 p.m. the water had reached the level of the between decks, and the Spit lire brigade, who had been working alternate spoils of oie hour since 2 a.m. yesterday, a continuous run of 27 hours of the most arduous labor with practically no sleep a id only snatches of food, were avowed to come ashore, and they were thoroughly done up when they landed. The work done by the Spit brigade, as well as by the officers and crew of the vessel, practically saved the steamer, for they kept steadily at what appeared at the time a hopel -ss task. The representative of the Underwriters Association, who c uiie off at o o'clock opined that in a few hours the fire would Le completely subdued, and the latest advices received at 10 30 p.m. arc to the effect that it Is expected the steamer will be quite safe by midnight.