Fire on a Barque.

Manawatu Herald, 8 March 1902, Page 2

Fire on a Barque.

A fire*"was discovered on Wednesday night in the forehold, of the barque Jessie Osborne, lying at the wool jetty. The vessel was to have sailed for London in the course of a few days, her loading of wool, flax and kauri gum having been almost completed. Wool was stowed in the forehold, and it burned with great persistency. The difficulty experienced in locating the seat of the fire made the task of the Fire Brigade a prolonged and arduous one. The night was almost calm, save for a light north-westerly wind. Apprentice Win. Porvis Collis was on watch at the time of the outbreak —about, a quarter past, ten o’clock. His attention was attracted by smoke issuing from the forward hold. He at once proceeded to the spot, and

found the pitch melting on the deck. He reported the fire to the second officer, Mr P. H. Day, who went on the wharf and endeavoured to summons the brigade. Ooliis states that be walked around the forward hatch between 9 and 9.15 p.m. There was then no sign of fire. Mr Day, the second officer, was aboard the vessel when the fire broke out. He was called on deck by Coilis, and he saw smoke issuing from the fore hold. With the assistance of several members of the crew and two Harbour Board watchmen he secured the hose from the wharf. By means of this hose water was played into the forward hold. Mr Day saya the tarpaulin covering the hatch was heated to such an extent that his fingers were scorched when he was removing it. As soon as the hatch was uncovered the flames burst out.

Captain Gantley was spending the evening with friends in the city. He says be cannot understand how the outbreak originated. Both the foreholds contained wool and flax, and they had been closed all day. All the cargo received on Wednesday was stowed in the main hold, which contained wool, flax and kauri gum. The vessel had almost completed her loading. About another 100 bales o! wool was to be received, and it was expected the vessel would leave for London to-day. Under the direction of Captain ~ Hugo, the Fire Brigade grappled bravely with a baffling job. The smoke from the burning wool sickened the men, who had to work in relays. Smoke jackets were used by man who went below to ascertain where the fire was seated, and how it was progressing. A large crowd congregated in the neighbourhood of the wharf. The Fire Police, who attended in full force, did service with members of the police force in keeping onlookers back. The Jessie Osborne was chartered by Mr G. H. Scales, the well-known shipping agent. When communicated with, Mr Scales, who resides at the Lower Hutt, said the vessel’s cargo consisted of about 8600 bales of wool, from 400 to 500 bales of flax, and over 100 tons of kauri gum, the value of the whole being about £40,000. The cargo was made up of parcels from a largo number of shippers. The wool was drawn from all parts of the district. To complete the cargo, a quantity of wool from Wanganui was all that was needed. This was expected daily. One day’s work by the stevedores would have made the vessel ready for sea. The cargo was insured by the various shippers. Details of the allotment of the policies were not available. No work was done on Wednesday in the forehold, the stowing of which was finished. A way was left for the ship’s people to get to the forepeak or fore part of the ’tween decks hold, the use of which was retained by the vessel. The owner of the Jessie Osborne is Mi- J. Irving, of Liverpool. The vessel is an iron barque, built twentyeight years ago. She is well-known in the Australasian trade, and at one time brought immigrants to New Zealand. She arrived in Wellington from Brisbane on the 14th February. About three years ago tlje Jessie Osborne caught fire when loading saltpetre at Iquique, Chili, for Dunkirk. On that occasion she had to he almost filled with water before the fire was got under. Two minor incidents of the fire were the safe removal of a dog from, the deck of the barque, and the efforts of a seaman to get aboard ‘the v ssel, which he said, in half-tipsy tones, he had belonged to “for shaven yearsh.” As the declarations have not come in, and as the adjustment between the insurance companies does not usually take place till after a vessel leaves port it is difficult in the circumstances to offer a complete list of the insurances. The full amount of the damage to cargo by fire, smoke, and water will also not be realised for some little time. The fire was extinguished at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning.