THE MARIPOSA DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 262, 26 April 1889, Page 2

THE MARIPOSA DISASTER.

«. Tffi Cargo ok Fuse. Auckland.. April 24. The Mariposa left Auckland, bound for San Francisco, at 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. Fine weather was experienced, and a fresh, southerly wind prevailed until 5.30 <ra Tuesday morning, whin the steattier was 220 miles distant. An aiarm of fire was then given, and as dense volumes oi smoke were issuing from the mail room the outbreak was first supposed to be there. The smoke was coming through the ventilators and was very thick, and the hose was promptly brought to> bear. It was discovered, however, that the fire was not in the mail room, and as the smoke was alsovery dense forward the hatches of the forehold were lifted, and volumes of thick smoke burat forth. Captain Hayward gave instructions to break out the cargo to get at the lower forehold, where a large quantity of flax was stowed, and the seat of fire was then easily fixed. An order was

given, to put the engines at "half speed," and in this way the draught down the hatch was reduced to a minimum. The hose was kept playing upou the burning material with, a good force of water, and about 30 bales ot flax were got out, all hands belonging to the ship, and also the captain and crew of the wrecked vessel Eed Cross (who were on board), working splendidly. The smoke and heat experienced became so severe that one man was carried on deck insensible; and it took two hours 1 nursing to bring him round. It then became apparent that the fire could not be extinguished in this manner, the men being unable to live down the hold, and Captain Hayward resolved to make the attempt to smother the fire. He therefore had the hatches battened down, and then gave an order to turn on the steam pipe. This having been dove, holes were cut in the deck and the hose brought into play again, and at midnight of yesterday all danger was at an end, and the smoke to come up from the hold. * In the meantime Captain Hayward had decided to return to Auckland, and the steamer's head wasput about between 7 and 8 o'clock yesterday morning, five hours before the fire was extinguished. It was then impossible to ascertain the extent of the damage, and it was considered imprudent to push forward into tropical latitudes^ where the great heat prevailing, might cause a recurrence of the disaster. Auckland was reached about 4 a.m. today. The Mariposa was berthed at the Queen-spveet wharTat 7 qNtfCKJfci"" and thY/York of discharging her cargo of nax was at onoe proceeded with. The effects of tbe fire were seen on the charred and smoked bales, drenched with water, which were landed on the wharf in the presence of curious crowds. By 8 o'clock the fire was completely under control, there being four feet of water in the forehold, and the flax was kept saturated with steam. The fire must bare b*gun within ft T»e»y few • hours of the ship leaving the wharf, and if it had gain d luuch more headway before it was discovered the great majority of the people on board miist have perished. Tbe women aid children alone would have fi led the boats, and these woalJ have had little chance of reaching .'and against the southerly wind and heavy &i& that was running. The flax on board the steamer comprised 380 b*lee. Of these. 118 were shipped by Arnold Cheney and Co. ou behalf of Sclanders and Co., Nelson, consigned to H. Peabody and Co., of Boston, afad insured for £450 iv the South , British office. The remainder was sent by Johnston and Co., of Wellington. When tbe Mariposa was berthed at the Queen street wbarf the mails were ilisch irged and spread out on the wharf. It was found tbat tbe New Zealand mail # as quitejuninjured and us dry as when *hipped. \ Tbat from Sydney included two bags sat nra* ed with water, but they were fortunately empty. Exper's were a nt to work at once to find out the condition of the ship and cargo. Captains Worsp and Clayton, the former of whom is marine surveyor for tbe Underwrites* Association, examined the vessel and found there was no injury beyond a slight charring ot the deck where the holes bad been out The bold where tbe fire broke out is of iron. They found that: the outside of tbe hales bad been charred, whilst the inside was uninjured, this going to show that the fire had not originated from spontaneous combustion. Some of the flax was stowed in the after bold, where it was not touched by either fire or water, and it was remarked by many persons that some bales were not so dry a« they should have been before being shipped. It is posritile tbat s mated was dropped into a bale whilst patting on board. The flax had been stored in tbe sheds oo the Auckland wharf for over three weeks. Tbe whole of the flax having been discharged, the Marinota left again to-night for San Francisco. As tbe vessel moved off a band on tbe wharf played several air*, and tbe captain and crew were loudly cheered.