Steamer on Fire.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1923, Page 3

Steamer on Fire.

I THE CANADIAN PIONEER. [in TELEGRAPH —PER I-RESS ASSOCIATION] AUCKLAND. Feb. I. The Canadian Government steamer, Canadian Pioneer, which arrived from Napier last niglil, berthed at Queen’s whuf. Cargo was worked for four hours and then everything appeared safe. This morning the sailors i eimo - ed the hutches ut 7.211 when ••moke issued from liuinhei- two hatch. Though fumes from the burning cargo made the task difficult two gangs of waferside workers shifted 10 to DO tons lielove they were compelled in cease, two of their number lining very sick owing to fumes. li, is believed the fire worked from the cod bunkers or through the bulkhead into number two hold on the starboard side at thi* bottom o! the vessel. There are also -igns of a lire in the bunkers. Two ltoses were connected with ihe hunkers and two with the hold from (he wharf, and a G-- Urol on Hie si a rlii aril side is poiirbjif in llfte'-n thousand gallons of water h mi■-!-md the Fire Brigade are runup- ; in--' ■inolher thirl v-s-js thousand hoiirb ill. \| ten e'elock smoke was si ill . tssiiiiur lint iL-> fit-' apima-s I'eing kerd ruder. Nurd c" two h"ld contains weed (lax. casein and ivs-ibW' t-illiv.v ln-d -1 at sniitbern nort = . including pin ff f vtfeltnn. Wi-llinglon. Naoier. consigned to Now York. Boston. Halifax. AUCKLAND. Fehntnrv 1. Under direction of Fire Superintendent Wilson and the harbour master, nvy aeelylire drills were worked on the hull of the Canadian Pioneer, just under the bridge which s'-uned the true seat of the fire. There the plates (J the shin had bulged per.--ont.ibly. with the enormous bent and the paint had Mistered off in great sheets. Tim work of blowing those ho’es was difficult and dangerous. A strong northeast wind had raised u swecl] and t!i-' firefloat rose and fell abn-mingly. '

stage was lowered for Ibe men with the blowers to work from but if was found impossible to wn’k U'is oxvi""' to tile terrific beat of the b"!| and fbo job was done from the do<-k of ■, un»ll vessel, Six uich circles per!' ed hv file blower and then a slo'hre smashed nuoniin's for three hoses. The arms of the men were scnvhod. The I tremendous quantity of we ter punned , (•'used the Canadian Dimmer to fake a 1 list to port, the rail of her main , deck bulwark Loin" on a level with the wharf while the ste 'hoard rail, cant-l high oil the '■"award side