SHIP ON FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1929, Page 6

SHIP ON FIRE

CREW’S HARD FIGHT

(Australian Press Association)

(Received this day at 8.30. a.m.)

MELBOURNE, November 21

Aii unenviable experience of tin 1 crew of the steamer Telemaclms during a twelve days’ battle against lire in the coal cargo in the Indian Ocean was told upon arrival of the vessel yesterday.

The crew consisted of sixty-nine, of whom thirty-nine were Chinese. When the fire was discovered, volunteers went down the holds. They were repeatedly driven hack by the fumes, and smoke helmets were used. Two men were hauled on deck hv lifelines, hut by repeated visits to the seat of the lire they were able to dig trenches among the coal. Once there was a tcrrifie explosion, which shook the ship and lifted a hatch off the forward hold. The boats were swung out in readiness for an emergency. The big ship, during the whole time, was tossing in angrv seas. The radio aerial carried away. The (ires in two holds burned for twelve days, hut finally great volumes of water were directed into the holds by means of outside hoses made from pieces of canvas sewn together. The ship looks little the worse for the experience.