FIRE ON THE IONIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 128, 21 May 1908, Page 2

F IRE ON THE IONIC.

THINGS COOLING' DOWN.

for I'iitort Association. ~., .. "'cUingfcoii, Last NicM the Slnnv.. Savill, itU( i VWa line steamer ionic, which ™« "<'s alongside U „, ( j )a^ow wllMf u " jX a.i outbreak of (ire j u $,,. j ~"?£ Ulth flic lire was discovered about I] <m ;';»;, >vlnl« the finishing touches. "« > >(? put on the work of stowing a W Hie remaining cargo. 5 - sudVuvii'n Tu,a£iß ,? flr " over B 6 ai V ■ ' «■ well-known olliecr, "with the dif- ■ nco that w« have caught it ia time, a-on,chancy ol gelling the inW i-.^'W-" flri,w -"-**' tJXy "' th * (il '« w«« retried, the i. uiK„ were promptly battened down, i ~,, ', '"", < -; utCl ' «"*■<-' ortlci 'B t" have ■J."" 1 , 1 " «"'<*'«l mUi the hold. The Wcl- «- Har,,or Board's staff arrived » in its appliances almost immediately, i liT" , tw ;f e !' 0,llic »l were ?'"» ',"' Md ' k " ow " t0 be filled !,.;. b ° e f x . '"«"!*' the lire were generaim laioonatc of soda. While these remedies were being actually employed Iho are brigadesnicn (under Acting Superintendent O'Brien, Z the ftfe" police also arrived with their gear and continued to render valiuble assistance. Water was eoiftinually poured on the torward deck of tiie vessel, and every precaution taken to keep down the temperature as far as possible. The thermometer was irequcntly used to test tlie temperature in the lower holds, and, alter a number oT tests, the captain wa,j fatisiied that the fire was in the upper deck only. Tlie cargo in No. 1 lower hold consists almost entirely of tallow. Wool is 1 stowed in the 'tween decks, and the cargo in the upper deck, where the fire has broken'out, consists mostly of flax, with a small quantity of general cargo. It is believed that the greater quantity of the ilax in the hold has been shipped? from the Manan-atu and Foxten mills.

All the afternoon measures to put the five out were continued. The Union Company's tug 'jeiwhiti drew alongside the big steamer, and preparations were made to connect up, but it was not anticipated then that either the marine or hind extinguisher would be required. Captain Hernial! and other experts were then confident that the first career! was Hearing its end. An officer who had been below for fl ome time reported that things were cooling down inside. 'We started on it," he said, "before it liad a chance to get going." This evening the hatches remained sealed. The Harbor Hoard's two chemica'l engines injected chemical mixture into the hold, and the lonic's ova'appliances were used to pump, steam and inject chemicals into the seat of the Are. 'lie temperature is )#ing reduced hourly.

The company's officers state they do not intend to take any risks, and the hatches will not lie removed till they feel 'convinced that all chanAj of the fire spreading has passed. The sides of the steamer are hot to the touch, but the marked decrease in temperature hour by hour leads to the hope and belief that the fire will soon be extinguished. The steamer's departure for London is postponed to Friday for the present.