CARGOES THAT CAUSE TROUBLE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 26, 1 April 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

CARGOES THAT CAUSE TROUBLE

DEADLY FREIGHTS. Really dangerous cargoes do not cause so much trouble as those which are safe under ordinary conditions, but which are unpleasant or dangerous when circumstances are abnormal. Calcium carbide is quite safe if properly showed in drums that are waterproof, but should one of them leak fire will almost certainly ensue, as water is bound to come in contact with the carbide sooner or later. Several vessels have had narrow escapes from being burnt in this way, and in future carbide will not be allowed on passenger ships. Ice seems harmless enough, but it was responsible for the loss of a sailing vessel a year or two ago. Taking a cargo of ice'to the West Indies, she encountered Lad weather and was blown out of her course. As a result, the ice began to melt and the hold was soon halffull of water. For four days the crew kept at the pumps, but without avail, and she was finally abandoned. Sugar can also be an unpleasant cargo at times. A steamer loaded sugar For America in the East Indies, and unfortunately took on board a number of beetles at ihe same time. Going through the Tropics these beetles increased enormously, until the ship was Bwarming with them, and they even bit the crew in their bunks. This state of affairs lasted until colder weather wai' encountered and the pests died down. A few years ago some emigrants mysteriously died when crossing the North Sea, eu route to Liverpool. At the subsequent inquiry it transpired that part of the cargo of the steamer by which they travelled was ferro-silcon, which gives off five gases, four of which are poisonous. WRECKED BY BEAN 3. Within the last few years an enormous trade with the Far East in Soya beans has been developed. These beans are crushed for oil, and under ordinary circumstances form a harmless cargo, but they must be kept dry. If they get wet they swell and there is' trouble; at least two vessels have been totally *ost from this cause. A large steamer went ashore on a sandbank, being little damaged beyond the starting of a plate or two. Unfortunately, water percolated through, the beans swelled, started more plates, more water got in, and the vessel had to be left whare s-he lay, a complete wreck.

Cyanide of potassium is not a carga that mariners welcome, for if it gets loose i'; may cause unpleasant deaths. A tank in a steamer containing some cases of this deadly poison leaked, and tvhen the pumps' w-ere started, fish ot all sizes came to the surface round the Vessel. The water from the tank had got into the cargo and formed a deadly solution.

Some vegetable fibres may also prove embarrassing at times. The story goes that an Italian ship once loaded with some vegetable fire in Algeria, and after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar met witn adverse winds that blew her down south, where she becamo becalmed for several days. Then the grass T)egan to sprout and pushed its way between the planks on deck. An inspection of the hold showed the cargo was- 1 sprouting inn all directions. It pushed its way through every crevice and climbed up the rigging, so that when *he wind came no little labour was required to clear it away. Nitre and asphalt are cargoes that can g've trouble. On more than one occasion asphilt has formed into a solid mass so that it has had to be hacked or even blasted out. Once when a vessel canying a cargo of nitre solidified in this way arrived at San Franscisco to unload, it is said a plough wa.- fastened to tackle and pulled back and forth to dig out the salt. Wild animals are not beloved by sailors, as there is always a chance that they may break loose. Many examples might bo quoted, but the stormy voyoge of the Phoenix across the Atlantic in l'JO'3 must be the worst, for it is said the trainers' only managed to snatch a few hours' sleep during the trip. . The cargo consisted of lions, bears, elephants, hyenas, pumas, and a large number of the usual performing animals. Breaking loose, some of the animals fought and killed one another, some jumped overboard when being chased, and altogether the attendants' and crew had a lively time.