FIRE ON TARAWERA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1909, 19 October 1906, Page 3

FIRE ON TARAWERA.

SERIOUS OUTBREAK, IOUMMKBk PRESS ASSOCIATION

Auckland, last night, Rather a serious outbreak of fire occurred ou the Tarawera on the voyage from Gisborne to Auoklacd, Mr Bugo, a passenger by tho Tarawera, states bo was svakeued shortly btfure midnight by a steward coming into his cabin, tolling mm to dress, as there had bean an outbreak of five. He perceived an odor es of caemicals burning. Hu occupied a deok oabio. As he stepped out- be saw dense smoke rising from the hatches end saloon companion, uud apparauiiy every oponiDg from beioiv. Older passengers wore cjming on deck. ■Some of tbo crew were engaged swinging tbo boats oui, ready for lowering, and others ware combatting tbo tiro, tile seat of which appeared to be under the saloon, about amidships. Tbo ba’oh had been lifted aad the hoses pointed below, while, in spiis of tbs dense smoko, men descended.

“ What siruok ms forcibly,” added Mr B.igb, “ was tbo entire absence oi anything opptoueaiug a puuia or extreme nervousness on tho part of tiia passengers, tboogb a fair proportioa of woman and children were aboard

“ Too situation to a iandiman’a eye appeared io bo grave. Toe snip hud been stopped to avoid increasing the draught, aurl even tbo officers regarded the position as very serious indeed, but the fire was eventually suppressed,” It is übdmsiood tbe c irgo was considerably d imaged. M: Biigo, continuing, said tho behaviour of the officers and crew was cimoiy perfect, Taey faugut the fire witbout she least sign of excitement. While the siesmor was stjppod we drifted to 86 miles from land, v/fib a probability of having to desert tils vessel in trie buais-

Whan tile passengers came up from the main deck oavius mey cLolsrei tho smeko uud neat were brcoming lcitoierablo, but We were unable to arrive a) anything do* finite as so the extent of the fire. “ I uuppjio wo were on deck about an hour nuci a naif, when sue ocew obtained control. Tnoy quiukiy rodue-;d tha flame 3, but before this was accomplished some sis or seven feet of wa’er was poured into tho hatch.

“ I have not Been able to gather tho extant of the injury, but it was remarked after the fire was suppressed that tho whole spaoi under the saloon was a seething mass of flame.”

Tbs officers state about 200 tons of oargo are affected. All in tha after hold is damaged. The firo was extinguished by hand grenades, and the hose pumping five feet of water into tho hold.

Toe origin of the firo is a mystery, There was nothing on board oo far as is kaovvn likely to cause spontaneous cumbu;ton. The hull ia undamaged, The dick is Blig nly damaged. * Before arrival at A.uoklaud Me Biigh, on behalf of the passengers, presented to Captain Rolls and effij-.-,s and crew of the Taraworu a testimunid expressing their tho tueeesafui efforts to Bave them from the ternblo danger of fire, and admiration of the excellent order maintained. Tho quiet demeanor of the orew prevented any needless fear among tho paaac-Dgera.

Captain Rolls replied, acknowledging the testimonial, He eaid the cflicars and orew had only done their duty, lie congratulated the passengers upon the manner in whion tuey faced the situation, whioh was at one time certainly a oause for uneasiness.