THE WOOLSHIP FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 70, 26 March 1901, Page 1

THE WOOLSHIP FIRE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, last night. On Saturday afternoon advice reached Port Chalmers that a four-masted ship was on fire. The tug Koputai, with the chief harbormaster and others, proceeded to the relief. The stranger proved to be the Strathgyfo, which left Sydney for London on the Bth inst., with a full cargo of wool. The vessel was .taken in tow and brought up to the powder ground yesterday afternoon, where she was moored. Capt. Mcßitchie reports that on Thursday smoke was noticed coming out of one of the after ventilators. The after hatch was at once opened and. dense clouds of smojje issued from the cargo. The crew, in their efforts to locate the fire, ran a great risk of being suffocated by the fumes of the smouldering wool. It was therefore determined to make for the nearest port, which was Otago, Ipimediately on arrival of the vessel in port steps were taken to discharge some of her cargo, the lighters Thomas and Henry, with strong gangs of men, being employed for the purpose. The cause of the fire was probably heating hi the wool, or perhaps some taken on board wet. On Saturday about 200 tons of water was put into the hold. The fire has begn extinguished. A meeting of underwriters is convened for this afternoon to ascertain and settle the liability. The fire was in the lower hold on the port side aft among the wool bales, a considerable number of which were totally burnt. The ship is not much damaged. But for the northeasterly wind blowing, the vessel could not have made port in time.