STEAMER ON FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 129, 22 May 1908, Page 2

STEAMER ON FIRE.

FAILURE OF WEDNESDAY'S EFFORTS. THE BUKNING HOLD FLOODED. FLAMES SUBDUED AT LAST. DAMAGED CARGO BEING DISCHARGED. Per Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. , After toiling unceasingly all night with chemical appliances and entertaining hopes of success, the fire-lighter* on board the lonic had to admit defeat. 'i'lie harbor staff continued to inject carbonic acid gas into tlie hold all night, and the ship's own. appliances were also kept going right, through the night. At 8 o'clock this morning success seemed to have been attained, and it was considered safe to open the upper-hatch and let tlie fumes and steam clear away for a time. All went well; the steam, freed from captivity, curled upward a in great white clouds, but doubts soon lied, as smoke with a distinct odour commenced to mingle with the steam. Hardly an hour had passed when a laborer standing near the hatchway declared that iie had seen Haines, but tlie dense fumes prohibited any possibility of verifying his statement. There was no doubt, however, that the iire was not extinguished. It- was clear that it waa making rapid headway. The captain of the lonic, who knew that the seat of the tire was on the starboard side of the 'tween decks of No. 1 hold, climbed over tlie side of his vessel, let himself down by means of a rope ladder, and felt, the plates of the big steamer. Thi manner in which he lifted his hand was sufficient answer. Meanwhile, tlie hatches had been closed up again, firmly battened down, covered with canvas, and generally rendered as near airproof as possible; but the temporary uncotering let volumes of oxygen into the hold, and the decks rounu the hatch began to show signs of the intense lieat below. The putting of chemical appliances into action was again contemplated, but after a consultation between Captain Evans, Captain- Cartel', Captain Beudall (Lloyd's surveyor), and Acting-Superin-tendent O'Brien (of tlie City Fire Brigade) it was deciu'od to Hood the hold. The Union Company's powerful tug 'f'erawhiti had been lying alongside the lonic since yesterday afternoon, and the ' Fire Brigade's steam engine was situ- ; ated at an easy distance from the

vessel. '■Oil' with Hie; ball-lies!" ciunc! tlu order. Men UihjcUv«l away the pegs and ttii'' 1 oil' a plank or two, jiwfc suilicieut to admit tin: water, A man failed from the dock of the lonic to the engineers 011 the Tcrawhiti to ''let her go?' and in a couple of seconds two bilge pumps and three leads of hose were forcing walcr into tlic hold of the burning' steamer at the rate of 12,000 tons per hour, The l'ive Brigade also let their cn'ginc "go" to the tune of JOOO gallons per minute, projected through three separate leads of hose, and six leads were being fed off the city supply. Altogether over 15,000 tons of water were being poured into I lie hold every hour. The cargo in No, 1 bold consists of about 1800 bales of llax, several casks of tallow, 320 bale.* of wool, sume pelts, and a small quantity of general cargo. The whole will be damaged by water, and a considerable quantity must necessarily have Uec.ll destroyed by the fire. When the flooding i* completed and the water pumped out again the cargo will have to be discharged. Perhaps a portion of the llax and the wool can be dried and saved, but the loss in any case must he considerable. Frozen meat is stowed in the hold adjoining No. 1, and although it is stated that the temperature has not risen, it is dillienlt to see how such cargo can escape without | injury. It is understood that when the damaged cargo is discharged the lonic will proceed 011 her voyage to Ixmdon. In two hours and a-half the hold in the lonic was flooded. A bole was made in the side of the vessel by cutting away a sealed porthole, and through this the water gushed with great, energy. When the surface of the water ha* reached the level of the porthole, the Tcrawhiti will be commissioned to pump out what remains. It- is anticipated that the work of discharging the cargo will be commenced to-night. The Marino Department has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the fire. Dr. McArthur, S.M., will preside,.and Mr. W. G. Foster and CaptaiflßlackliuriH' will lie associated with him. Jt will he remembered that these three gentlemen comprised the Wool Fires Commission. They were, among the most interested of the who were allowed to view the fire from the decks of the steamer this morning.

THE LATEST. Wellington, Midnight. At a late hour to-night the water with which the lonic's No. 1 hold was flooded had been pumped out to the extent of eight or nine feet, anil some cargo discharged from that and No. 2 hold for examination. The company hopes to despatch the steamer for London on Sunday.