UNION STEAMER ON FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 522, 19 September 1902, Page 2

UNION STEAMER ON FIRE.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright, .SYDNEY, Sept. id. The steamer Manapouri is on. fire. The fire threatens to be serious, iji The steamer arrived from Fij to-day, and was transhipping cat go a Woolloomooloo Bay. The fire started to-night.

(Received 0.22 a.in.) SYDNEY, Sept. IS. The steamer Manapouri brought a large cargo of Island produce, including 11,800 hags, of copra. After discharging produce, a g;ood portion of the cargo, on tlie Margaret street v.Ji.-.rf, the steamer proceeded to Woolloomooloo Bay, to tranship t lie remain Hr of the cargo, consisting of copra, I.he quantity of which is supposed to ho about BUU tons, to the German steamer Darmstadt, on the outside of which site was moored.

Discharging, with the assistance of the electric light, was proceeded with until half-past seven. Then the men working in the No. 2 hold ■ noticed flames on top of some bags of copra that were being sent up. The alarm- was given, and the men attempted to extinguish the fire, hut it spread with great rapidity. The fire brigades were quickly on the scene. When they arrived the flames were leaping up the gangway.

Carrying the hoso across the Darmstadt, four engines began pouring in water. They succeeded in driving the fire below, and it is now confined to the fore and main holds, whero the copra is stored. Dense volumes of stnoke are pouring out of the hatches, and prevent attempts to ge.t at the seat of the fire.

At a late hour four steamers were still at work.

The Manapouri has a very heavy list to port.

Despite the large quantity of water aboard, it is apparent that tho fire has a good hold. The smoko is unabated, but no fire is visible. The Harbor Trust steam tug is standing by in readiness to tow her into tho harbor if necessary. The list is so heavy that there are some fears she may capsize. No explanation is given of the cause of the outbreak.