WARRIMOO ON FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1400, 10 March 1905, Page 3

WARRIMOO ON FIRE.

. a'HB WARRiIMOO POT’S BACK ,TO •i ■ ,-n,„ MELB.OiURNE. ‘ ws’ri X HER FOREHOLDs BURNING., Pl' * By Electric Telegraph.—Per Press V Association—Copyright. ; , l MELBOURNE;- March 9. v«rw Queen sclilTe has reported that a jjSfij; ‘s'idaigo steamer was early, this mornppffiijjXjt Ih®s.'«iß the Heads, firing rochets awl [ ~, burning blue lights. . * *, - r ~' Two fishing boats reported'that it .was the Union Company’s steamer iff. .Vvarrimoo, with her forehold on fire. V Thr Warri moo entered the Heads, i attended by- a pilot boat, the captain ' stating that he could keep the fire i(n- ---■ Her until Melbourne was reached.. *■’ j. ■ The' tug Eagle ha® gone to her ■Av assistance. ’ A i The Warrimoio ictfe Melbourne yesO.v iteiiday afternoon, for Hobart and ' the Biuß, • 1

FURTHER DETAILS. : VESSEL BELIEVED TO BE •5i UNINJURED. ■ '1?‘: By Telegraph—Press ABSooiatlon—Copyright , Roooived 4.62 p.m., March 9. Melbourne, March 9. . The V7arrimoo was found to be on fire at 10.SG last night, when eight miles off j Cape Schank, The ohief offioor roportod to the captain that smoke was issuing from the ventilators. of No. 2 forehold. The crew wore immediately oalled to quarters, and the boats were swung up and provisioned. Adjacent to the fire was a large lot of kerosene, and there were also 500 oases of kerosene and napthina stored on deck. Hta Immediately the outbreak was looated water was liberally pumped on, and the • deok oargo was jettisoned. At the ond of an hour, as the fire ; j«;t seemed to increase, the passengers were i : oalled, first from tbo steerage and then from the cabin, and wore assembled aft. Not till then had they discovered anything was wrong. A. There was not the slightest panic. The captain decidod to roturn to Mel- '■ bourne, as there was danger of the kero ’ k , .. sene boiDg ignited and exploding. He then sent up distress signals, whioh were* answered by the pilot steamer. Just before the tugs which were sent to ! the vessel’s assistance reached her the fire --•«? M was overcome, and their help was de- , dined. The vessel reached tho wharf ■ r . without further incident. The fire originated amongst some bags j r ? -• of paper shavings whioh were packed close j [if! to some bags of chaff. < An examination showed that many of ( •»J-, the cases, captaining tho kerosene were £ reduced to The solder had ( j . melted, but none of tbo oil ignited. c ' The fire brigade mot the vessel at the j wharf, hut was not required. ‘ e The vessel has eight feet of water in tho g jv hold, but it is believed tho vessel is unin- t. ,f . jnred. > 4

After a . survey has been made tho steamer may resume her voyage to-night. Received 12.1 s.rn., March 10. Melbourne, March 9 - The density of smoko provootod the chief officer’s attempt to enter the hold, but when the ..crow got to work with the ship’s fire apparatus they soon got the fire under, tho fire brigades putting tho finish- ; tag touches on at the wharf with chomioal 1 apparatus. The vessel proceeded up the river, where the damaged cargo was un loaded. A survey is now proceeding. It is hoped to resume the voyage at midnight. Tbo fire was confined to No. 2 hold forward, immediately beneath the hatches, whore was stored general cargo and ohaff, which was jettisoned, including I 400 cases of benzine. The captain pays a high tribute to the' splendid behavior of I the crew and passengers While disobarg- j ing the chiof officer foil off a stage into I the water, bnt was none the worse for bis I ducking. |