A Ship on Fire.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 129, 28 March 1901, Page 3

A Ship on Fire.

Dunkoin, March 25

On Saturday afternoon advice reached Port Chalmers th.it a fourmasted ship was on fire. The Koputai, with the chief harbourmaster and others, proceeded to the relief of the stranger, which proved to be the Strathgryfe, which left Sydney for London on March Bth, with a full cargo of wool.

Tiie vessel was taken in tow and brought up to the powder ground yesterday afternoon, where she was moored.

Captain Mcllitchie reports that on Thursday smoko was noticed coming out of one of the after ventilators. The after hatch was at once opened, and dense clouds of smoke issued from tire cargo. The crow, in their efforts to locate the fire, ran great risks of being suffocated by the fumes of the smouldering wood. It was therefore determined to make for the nearest port, which was Otago. Immediately on the arrival of the vessel in port, steps were taken to discharge some of her cargo. The lighter Thomas and Henry, with strong gangs of men, was employed for the purpose. The cause of the fire was probably heating in the wool, or perhaps some was taken on board wet.

On Saturday about 200 tons of water was put into the hold, and pumping was continued to-day. The fire has been extinguished. A meeting of underwriters has been convened for this afternoon to ascertain and settle their liability. The fire was in the lower hold on the port side. aft. among the bales of wool, a considerable number of which were totally burnt. The ship was not much damaged. But for a northeasterly wind blowing, the vessel could not have made the port in time. Port Chalmers, March 25.

Some of the stevedores working on the fjtrathgryfe during Sunday night suffered severely from fumes. The vessel will be brought up to the export wharf to morrow, and the whole of the cargo will probably be discharged..

It is expected that the wheat, which is under the wool, will have suffered considerably.