HEROISM AT SEA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2080, 15 May 1907, Page 1

HEROISM AT SEA.

THE FATAL FIRE ON THE: CHTJPRA.

Considerable interest is attached (says the Sydney Morning Herald) to the visit to Sydney cjf > the new British-India liner Cliuprn, which arrived here on lior maiden visit on Saturday, March 30th, by reason of tho fact that recently feats of conspicuous bravery' wore performed at sea by several of her officers, two of whom were awarded tho silver medal of tho Royal Humane Society in' England. Tho vessel loft Bombay for Antwerp on Monday, Octobor 31st, in fine woather, and all wont well until the following morning, when [Captain England, who was then in command, had his attention directed to smoko issuing from a ventilator. The officers at once proceeded to locate tho sceno of tho outbreak, and proceeded to No. 2 hatch, in which was stored general moreliandiso, particularly seeds awl cotton. They found tho centre of the mischief was at the most difficult part of tho vessel, being deep down in tho hold.

The only way tho fire could be extinguished was by reaching tho cargo with water, and the pumps were quickly at work. Despite the efforts of tho crew tho fire continued to burn steadily, and the heat grew intense. Tho hatches were then hermetically sealed,and tho vessel turned in the direction of Bombay. It was hoped that the sealing would liiave effectually smothered the fire, but by tho morning the heat had be come more intense. The vessel was suffused with the ■ nauseous gases which were being generated in the hold, and the hatch, which had noe.i opened, was again sealed. The fie was eventually got under by flooding the hold. One or two acts of bravery were recorded, which were noted by the Royal Humane Society. When heaving up the cable, a cry was raised that a native store dealer had.fallen below. A man was at once sent down, and he also fell below. Several attempts were made to get tho men up, notwithstanding the vile gases emanating from the burning cargo, and at last the chief officer went down and succeeded in rescuing one of the natives. The officer, howover, was in a sad plight himself'. The gases had got the better of him, and although he was eventually hauled up on the rope, which had -been fastened round his waist, lie: - : \was, unable to hold on, and just -as'c'-he. reached the rail he slipped through, the rope. Luckily lie was within' reach of strong arms stretched out to save him, but it was some time before the doctor brought him round. There was still one native in the “black hole,” and three attempts were made by the second engineer) the fifth engineer, and the fourth officer. The latter was successful in finding the body of the native, but nearly lost his own life by his heroic efforts.