A TUG ABLAZE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10617, 16 June 1920, Page 5

A TUG ABLAZE

XARAKA’S NARROW ESCAPE THRILLING INCIDENT AT THE WHARF. As the result of an outbreak of fire, shortly after one o'clock this morning, Mr E.G. F. Zohrab’s tug Karaka was .seriously damaged. A good save was clfeeted by the prompt attendance of the Fire Brigade. Constable J. U’Oonucr, of the wharf police, while patrolling the waterfront near tho Customs House, noticed a sudden burst of flame from under the bridge of the Karaka, which was berthed at the Harbour Board's small tug wnarf. He called Uie. brigade by street alarm at 1.3 u.m. ana at nine minutes past one the brigade had arrived. . iwo reels quickly got three leans of hose going. At 12 minutes x>nst one .the Sanies wore leaping up 5b feet above the vessel, hut Jive minutes later they were completely suppressed. A considerable amount of the woodwork under the bridge and tho deckhouse wore badly burned and the funnel was almost red hot. An examination seems to indicate that the firo started on top of tiki boiler just close tO' tho funnel. Mr Wm. Gunter, nightwatchman at the Customs House, observed the relleotion of the flames and hastened out to give the alarm, just getting there in time to see tho constable giving it. The Karaka is a wooden ve&seß of 13 tons gross, built in Wellington in 191011. Her principal dimensions are: Length, 69ft 4in; beam, 16ft; depth of hold, 7ft. She is a single screw vessel with engines of 22 horse-power, and is used for movilig hulks and general harbour work.

There is no danger of the vessel sinking on account of the amount of water put into it to quell the outbreak.