FIRE ON THE TARAWERA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8265, 19 October 1906, Page 5

FIRE ON THE TARAWERA.

. AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, October 18. A rather serious outbreak of fire oocurred on the steamer Tarawera on the voyage from Gisborne to Auckland. Mr Bllgb, a passenger hy the Tarawera, states that he was awakened shortly before midnight by the steward coming to his cabin and telling him to dress as tbero had bec-n an outbreak of tire. He peroeived an odour as of chemicals burning. He occupied the deck cabin. As he stepped out he saw a dense smoke rising from the hatches, the saloon oompanion, and apparently every opening from below. Other passen gera were oomlng on deck. Somejof the crew were engaged in swingingthe boats out ready for lowering. Others were combatting the Are, the seat of which appeared to ba under the saloon about amidships. The hatch had been lifted, and the huses were pointed below, while, in spite of the donde smoke, the men descended. "What struck mo foicibly," said Mr Bligh, "was the entire absence of anything aoproaohing a panic or extreme nervousness on the part cf the passengers, though there was a fair proportion of women aud children aboard. 1 The situation, to the landsman eye, acpearel grave. The ship had been stopped to avoid increasing the draught, and even the I officers regarded the positon as very serious indeed, bat the fire was eventually suppressed. It is under-? stood that the cargo is considerably damaged." Mr Bligh further stated that the behaviour of the officers and Mew was simply perfeor. They fought the fire without the least sign of excitement. "While the steamor was stopped," said Mr Bilgb, "we drifted 86 miles from land, with the probability cf having to desarh the vessel in boats. When the passengers came up from the main-deck cabins they declared that the smoke and heat were becoming intolerable, but we were unable to arrive at anything definite as to the extent of the fire. 1 supposo we were on deok about an hour and a half when the crew obtained control. They quickly reduoed the flames, but before this was accomplished | some six or seven feet of water was poured into the hatch. I have not been able to gather the extent of the iujory, but it was remarked that after the fire was suppressed the' whole space under the saloon was a seething mass of flame." The officer* state that about two hundred tons of cargo was effected, all in the after hold. The fire waa extinguished by hand grenades ana the hose.

The origin of the fire is a mystery. ; There was nothing on board so far as is knnwu, that was likely to cause spontaneous combustion. The hull was undamaged and the deok slightly damaged. . Before the arrival of the vessel at Auckland, Mr JJligb, on behalf of the passengers, presented to the captain, offioers and crew of the Tarawera a testimonial expressing appreciation of the successful efforts to save thea from the terrible danger of fire and admiration ot tho excellent order maintained and tbe quiet demeanour of the crew, which prevented any needless fear among the passengers. The captain replied, acknowledging the testimonial, and said that the officers and crew had onlydono their dnty. He -congratulated the passengers upon the manner in which they bad faced a situation which was at one time certainly serious enough to cause uneasiness,