LINER ON FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 23 June 1910, Page 4

LINER ON FIRE.

OUTBREAK IN THE IXDRADEVrS HOLD. DISASTROUS RESULTS FEARED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. An outbreak of Are was discovered in the forward hold of the steamer Indradevi, berthed at the end of the Queen.street Wharf, at 1.30 a.m. Smoke was Lining .froi-.s the hold where hardware goods were stowed. When the hatches were lifted smoke rushed out of the forehold.

The Fire Brigade attended smartly, and soon after 2 a.m. a man descended the hold 'in order to endeavor to locate the seat of the fire, while air was pumped into the hold from the deck.

The smoke continued to .increase in volume, and at 2.30 a.m. the forward part of the ship ibeeame warmer under foot. Indications pointed to the seat of the outbreak being in the forward 'tween decks, where the cargo consists of iron, salt, and beer in cases, the latter being packed in straw.

At 3 a.m. an officer inspected the hold and stated that the fire was confined to No. 1 hold. As far as he could judge, it was under control.

The ship's officers, engineers, and crew all now entered the hold to assist in suppressing the fire. Two 'brigades, with the Harbor Board fire float and all the ship's hose, were pumping water into the hold. The fire did not appear to be very serious, but shortly a considerable body of flame appeared. However, it quickly subsided, and the water seemed to be reaching the fire, which was now ascertained to ibe below the second deck. The firemen worked under difficult conditions, the forehold being filled with smoke, from which whirling eddies ascended, almost Winding the men at work. At !) a.m. the fire was still burning, but was apparently under control. Later. The fire on the Indradeyi has now a serious nspect. Water is being poured into Xo. 1 hold at the rate of 2400 gallons a minute, but is making apparently no impression. The heat, fumes, and smoke make the work of the firemen and crew increasingly difficult. Already six firemen have been incapacitated while endeavoring to locate the seat of the fire, which lias spread to the seamen's quarters. The latter are absolutely gutted. Aft of No, 1 hold is stored a large cargo of spirits, should the flames reach which disastrous results are feared. There is no sign of flames at present, but the .paint is Mistering off the steamer outside the forehold. A dense volume of smoke shrouds "flie vessel's deck.

The cargo in the hold where the fire is burning is all for southern ports. Chemicals are being used tqi endeavor to extinguish the fire. The Indradevi has a cargo of about 7000 tons, including for Auckland 1500 tons, Wellington 2000, Lyttelton 1000. and Dunedin 1500. In the hold afire are 4CO tons, mnstly hardware. Captain Wilkes, who worked with the officers and crew strenuously all night. is now iprostrated as a result of his exertions.

The chemicals have failed to affect the fire, and the fore part of the ship will now be completely flooded.

FLOODING THE FORWARD PART.

AN UNSUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT. THE ORIGIN A MYSTERY. Auckland, Last Night. Just before 3 o'clock this afternoon-, it was decided to flood the forward part of the Indradevi, as the only hop* of quelling the outbreak of fire. The chemical treatment was tried without avail. The hatches were closed down, and a trial given, but the plan was not a success/ its failure being attributed to too much ventilation.

In order to prevent the bursting of the bulkheads, which separate No* 1 from No. 2 hold, the crew was engaged this evening in what is known as tomming up, every precaution being taken to prevent the weight of water in the forward port crashing through-and flooding the whole ship.

The hatches are still retained on the No. 1 hold, as it is considered that the firemen can no longer do any good in going down to 'tween decks, and there fighting the fire. The flooding of the burning hold Is proceeding this evening. In addition to cargo, which will thus be ruined, the damage to the refrigerating plant in t)hia part of the ship is put down as likely to be at least £2OOO.

How the fire started is a mystery. The suggestion has been made that some of the men working in No. 1 hold last night may have dropped a match or a cigarette in the 'tween decks. It in also suggested that the insulator may have had something to do with the Are.