THE NETHERTON BURNED

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2030, 15 March 1907, Page 3

THE NETHERTON BURNED

Particulars have boon roceived concerning tho burning of tho stcamor Nothorton, while loading benzine at Sumatra. The vossol arrived at Singnporo from Nowcnstlo and Sydney on Docemlior 13, and about tho end of tho month she was chartered to load benzine, and wont to the wharf at Borandin. On January Bth an oxplosion occurred owing to gas from tho. bonzino coming-in contact with a light in tho bunkers, whore a trimmer was levelling olf tho coal. The bonzino was soon on firo, and in a vory short time the stonmor was a mass of flames. Eight Chinese and three Japanese who were aboard working tho cargo, woro caught in the flames and polished. Tho rest of those on board managed to got ashore to tho wharf, including ono Gorman sailor, who went to sleep in tho forocastlo, and was only awakened with great difficulty by the mate. Tho vossol burned away and threatened to set firo to the wharf. Indeed, tho flames did spread to this structure, hut the authorities sont a tug and got tlio vessel off with difficulty, and towed her away wlioro sho could burn out—as slio had done to the very shell, after three days’ blazing. The fire on tho wharf- was put. out, lint a couplo of lighters lying alongside tho vessel caught firo and woro burned. Tho captain and tho officers and crow lost all their effects, and the vessel will probably bo a total loss.