A KETCH ON FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 12 September 1914, Page 4

A KETCH ON FIRE.

ENGINEER DIES' FROM BCRNS. OIL FUEL IGNITION THE CAUSE. Jly Telegraph.—Per Press AssociationAuckland, Last Night. A fire broke out an board the auxiliary ketch Endeavor in liangitoto Channel this afternoon; As a result the vessel sustained serious damage, and the engineer, Phillip James Kunst, was so severely burned that he died from his injuries.

The Endeavor left the Queen's Wharf at 2.4.3 p.m. for Whangarei, and was towed baiek to a port two hour* later with the after-part of the hull a mass of flames, which were shooting out of tho cabin com-panion-way. The next instant the unfortunate engineer was seen groping his way out of the engine-room through smoke and llames. He was helped on to the deck by the captain, and was seen to be. seriously burned and in great pain. The ti:g To Awhina, in a few minutes, wa s alongside the burning vessel. Captain Gardiner immediately ordered the hose to be connected up, and a steady flow of water was played on the llames. Pcfore the tug came' to the rtscufl the crew of the Endeavor had •'succeeded in] revolting the flannfs from spreading to the forward part of the. ship by forming a bucket brigade. With 'the dense smoke issuing fiom her aftercabin, the Endeavor was towed by the jl'e, Awhina into port, and berthed across the end of the Queen's AVha-rf. The City Fire Brigade was then summoned, and with the assistance of a fire float I tho vessel's cabin and engine-room were flooded and the lire extinguished. , Kunst was taken to the hospital. The ,eook of the Endeavor, W. Sutclilfe, was also slightly burned about the head and 'face, and was removed to the, hospital. Captain liagg states that he has no idea as to how the fire occurred. The engineer at the time was filling the fuel tank from a tin. and tho liquid must have become ignited by some means. There was no explosion.

The whole of the after-cabins and en-gine-room were completely gutted, while flames Imrst through the cabin, rcof a,n<) scorched the sails, Most of the vessel's hull on the port side lift was almost burned tlirough. The holds and the forward part of tlie vessel were not damaged in any way. The Endeavor is an auxiliary vessel of 7fi tons gross register, and is owned by the'Xew Zealand Portland Cement Co., Ltd. She is fitted with a 30-horse power engine.