THE PAPAROA

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1926, Page 4

THE PAPAROA

BURNING AT SEA

A VIVID STORY. SYDNEY, April 16. A vivid story of the burning of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Paparoa in the .South Atlantic If st tniontli is told by an officer of the steamer Barrabool, which arrived at Adelaide last week-end. The Paparoa cleared for Australia from Liverpool on February 20th, and all went well on the passage out until March 13th, when it was discovered that there was a fire in the main bunkers. Only fumes and light smoke proclaimed this fact and outward signs of the fire grew no worse during the next three days. Officers of the ship Were just beginning to think that the matter would resolve itself into one merely of confined hunker fires of a limited nature, when early on March 17th, events developed with dramatic suddenness. Shortly before -I a.m. the chief engineer found evidence of a spread of the lire, and Loses were found useless to stem the almost incredible rapidity with which the flames spread round the bold. In a few minutes the firefighters were beaten back into the stokehold. The scene of efforts was then changed to the upper deck, which was the only remaining point from which the fire could he tackled. Coiners of a couple of hatches were lifted so as to give space for the hoses, ten of which were played into the hold below. The hearts of the sailors sank as they looked down into the red mass of (lames. The crackle and hiss of burning insulation as it fed the ooilenping crimson fury told its naked threat in undisguised terms to those men of the sea. but they professed not to hear it. They sealed their ears, and grimly sought to ignore the prophecy of destruction as they waged I lie unequal struggle, and tried to save the hatches from being burnt through, which would mean death to the ship. THE S.O.S. CALL. But there was one man who could mil disregard the signs of doom. This was the captain, and with the thought of the safety of those aboard he sent out a wireless describing the plight of the Paparoa, and calling for assistance. The only vessel near enough to give assistance was the Barrabool. 187 miles away, and she immediately answered, the call, which was received shortly after 7 a.m. The whole of the crew turned out. and double banked the fires. Speed was increased from ten to fourteen knots. Meantime on the Paparoa, the upper hatches and tarpaulins had been burnt through, giving access to the swirling wind, which fanned the fire into a rending furnace. At 1.26 p.m. came from the burning vessel the laconic message ‘‘Position hopeless.” ’I be Paparoa uas sighted right abend of the Barrabool, exactly as expected and on time to the very minute. It was a lino example ot accurate navigation under unfavourable conditions. AVhen the Barrabool drew close to the doomed vessel, heavy banks of grey

smoke poured from one of t lie Holds round which a cluster ot men worked

with hoses. The paint of the hull vas burnt off or hung in strips along the

heated plating, which sent lip a cloud

of steam as the ship dipped in the swell. The Paparoa was heeled over to starboard at an angle ot 18 degrees. The cheer of encouragement which we nt across the intervening water from the lusty lungs of the Hanalmol's complement must surely have been more than a welcome to the blackened ereiv ot the Paparoa. One ot tlie Barnibool's lifeboats beaded towards the stern of the I'a pa run while the parent ship acted as a floating breakwater. Everyone felt a t hrill ot pi ide as the small craft rode the big rollers, and rounded the stern of the Paparoa. The Barrabool then took up a position on the lee side, and more cheers rose from the excited passengers when the boat returned with four passengers, six stowaways and an injured tireman from ibe Paparoa. ALL SAVED. Before dark most of the crew i f '.be Paparoa had been taken aboard the Barrabool, but il was cot until 10 pm. iht Captain Wilde and the last pally left the burning ship. Then the flames were seen, to dicker for a lew seconds, and the boat deck just behind the bridge, then the whole of the bridge and passenger structure as far aft as the funnel burst simultaneously into a mass of flames, the crackling of which was plainly heard by those cm the Barrabool. The instantaneous outbreak was so sudden that it liushml all conversation among the spectators. A few moments later a series of sharp explosions occurred oil the Paparoa, a i ich was alight along the whole ni'clships block of passenger aceoitiniodatiun, wide I ', flared like a. gigantic bn; nek, throwing up Haines 60ft high. Throughout the long night more than 1 100 passengers crowded the decks of the Barrabool, and watched the burn-

iug shell of the Paparoa across the crimson Hare-lit water that separated the two ships. As the hours passed the roaring flames swept the Paparoa lore and alt until at daybreak there remained merely a gutted,, blackened hull, still burning sullenly throughout. The officers of the Barrabool obtained the ship's, position, which was broadcast, and the liner swung slowly and left the living lnilk settled deep in the water with the part rail nearly awash. That was the last seen of the Paparoa. Towards the end of the following day HALS. Birmingham arrived at the scene, with orders to sink the derelict, but. found only a long line of partially burnt flotsam, and areas of floating charcoal. It was the marine grave of the Paparoa.