A Raging Inferno

Shannon News, 4 September 1925, Page 4

A Raging Inferno

FLAMES BURST THROUGH. SHIP BULGES AND LISTS. FlltE BRIGADE'S DOGGED FIGHT. AUCKLAND, Sept. 3. /At 4.45 this morning the fourth officer of the Kent saw smoke coming irom a ventilator and gave the alarm. He called the captain and Chief Officer, and they got the ship's hose working, while the engineers got the pumps going and turned steam and water into; -No. i hold, ihey signalled to the shore. The Fire Brigade was called at 6.15 and was aboard at 6.30. Tliey immediately got to work helow. Fireman AicKay was almost suffocated when taking a hose down the hold through the air line attached to his mask getting entangled. He was rescued hy Chief Officer Barclay and soon recovered. The Brigade drilled two big holes on the port side of the vessel where the fire was located, and another, 14 inches in diameter m the deck. The port side of the ship is commencing to bulge and the deck is becoming extremely hot. At ten o'clock the fire was working aft and appeared to have a very strong hold. At this time the firemen were (Operating in the ship's store room, underneath the main deck house right amidships. At 10.10 it was evident the fire was more intense. Dense black smoke and the smell indicated that the flames had reached the oils and paints. At 10.15 tile flames made their appearance over No. % hold, leaping seven or eight feet up, while the ship was steadily listing tQ starboard. At 10.20 the flames burst out in greater fury and from the navigating bridge, No. 2 hold appears to be a raging inferno. At 10.23 the navigating instruments, ship's papers and some property jf value belonging to the officers were removed from the main deck house. The most strenuous efforts were made to keep the fire from getting right aft, where the oil fuel is stored, the Kent being an oil-nurning vessel. At 11.30, after consultation with the captain of the Kent and Capt. Plunket, Lloyd's Surveyor, and Captain Sergeant, the Harbour Master, it was decided to. bring the Kent alongside the wharf where she is now being tawed to get advantage of the pressure of city water. The origin of the fire.is -a mystery. The officers have been in the hold every day since the vessel left the wharf. Only the officers and engineers were aboard the whole time.