STEAMER ON FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 216, 18 October 1909, Page 2

STEAMER ON FIRE.

SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE SURREY SEAMEN KILLED BY FUMES. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Melbourne, October If). The steainsr Surrey, from Sydney, en route to London, reported that early on , Thursday morning a fire was discovcrel in the lower starboard coal bunker. The , boatswain. Christiansen, and /a seaman, Xeilson, descended to locate the out- 1 break, but were overcome by fumes. The second officer and second engineer went to their assistance. The latter wag overcome, but the chief officer, by repeatcd ofl'ofts, succeeded in reaching Christiansen and Neilson, but all efTorts to restore animation failed. The second engineer regained consciousness. It whk thought that the Are was out, I out nfte r the steamer reached the wharf smoke was noticed coming from No. 3 hold. The crew descended, but the dense smoke drove them buck after several hud been overcome by the fumes. The hatches were then battened down and holes cut in (lie deck and water poured ill. The lire still gained and ! eventually the fire brigades, were summoned. and the outbreak was got under control late last night. The steamer lies with n strong list to port, and is appanntlv rexting on a sand-bank. The extent of the damage is not known, but it must lie serious. The cargo ehielllv consists of Queensland frozen meat and rabbits, which will have to be removed. The supposition is thai the fire was caused by heat from the bunkers ign'ting the refrigerating insulation. It is reported that a fire occurred in the bunkers before the steamer left Sydney, but it was thought to have been thoroughly quenched.

(Lloyds' surveyor reports that the steaber is not much damaged, but the destruction to the cargo by fire and water is proliably set tons. Received October 18,1.5 a.m. Melbourne, October 17. The quenching of the Surrey lij-e was delayed owing to a plug in a bulkhead blowing out and allowing the water to flood the engine-room. While it was being refixed, the lire regained its strength and wns not got under till early this morning. The damaged cargo includes a quantity of wool.