FIRE ON A STEAMER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9625, 18 October 1909, Page 5

FIRE ON A STEAMER.

TWO MM SUFFOCATED.

SERIOUS DAMAGE TO CARGO.

Uiited P sA< ocntlon—r>y .u.eotnc Telegrnj h Copyright.

MELBOURNE, October 16,

The steamer Surrey, from Sydney, en route to London, has reported that early on Thursday morning a fire was discovered in tho lowt?r scarboard coal bunker.

The boatswain (Christiansen) and a seaman na:n,;d Nai 13^n descended to locate the outurjak, and were o„verco"ne by fumes. I'he chief officer and second engineer went to their assistance, but the latter was overcome. The chief engineer mada repeated efforts, and succeeded in reaching Christiansen and Neilson, but all efforts to restore animation failed. The second engineer regained consciousness. It was thought the fire had been put out, but after the steamer had reached the wharf smoke was noticed issuing from No. 3 hold. The crew descended, but the dense smoke drove them back after several had been overcome by the fumes. The hatches were then battened, holes cut in the deck, and water poured in. However, the fire still gained.

Eventually the fire brigades were summoned, and the outbreak got under control late last night.

The steamer lies with a strong list to port. She is apparently resting on a sand bank. The extent of . the damage is unknown but it must be serious. The cargo chiefly consists of Queensland frozen meat and rabbits, which will be removed.

The suppositi n is that the Surrey fire vsas caused by the heat from the bunkers igniting the refrigerating insulation.

It is repirted that a fire occurred in the bunkers before the steamer, left Sydney, but it was thought it had been thoroughly c,u.nched. Lloyds" surveyor reports that the steamer is not much' damaged, but thd destruction of cargo by fire and water is probably serious.

Rceeived October 17, 11.5 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 17,

The quenching of the fire in the Surrey was delayed through the plug in the bulkhead blowing out. and allowing the water to flood the engine room. While it was being refixed the fire regained strength, and was hot got under till early this morning. The damaged cargo includes a quantity of wool.