FIRE AT SEA. AN EXCITING SCENE ON A BIG STEAMER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 411, 16 October 1889, Page 5

FIRE AT SEA. AN EXCITING SCENE ON A BIG STEAMER.

Passengers by the steamer Britannic, which arrived at Queenstown on September 12th from New York, report that on the sth September smoke was discovered escaping from one of the after hatches, and it was at once ascertained that the cotton stowed in that part of the vessel was on lire. Captain Davidson and hi 3 officers immediately took steps to get at the seat of the fire, and for that purpose che hatch was taken o(i,o (i , and the officers and crew worked with extraordinary energy in getting the burning cotton out of the hold and on to the deck. Meantime water was copiously poured on the burning mas?, and in less than two hours the fire was completely got under control. The burning cotton, numbering close on 100 bales, was taken on deck. When the alarm was given the passengers generally became very excited, but when the extent and nature of tho fire was explained to them all possibility of an uproar was at once removed. Captain Davidson and his officers were presented with an address from the saloon passengers on the following day, thanking them for the prompt and energetic manner in^ which they coped with what at first appeared a serious danger to the ship and 11 on board.