FIRE AT SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 244, 14 October 1889, Page 3

FIRE AT SEA.

AN EXCITING SCENE ON A BIG ' ~ STEAMER.

Passengers by the steamer Britannic, which arrived ab Queenstown on September 12fch from New York, report) that on the sth September smoke was discovered eecaping from one of the after hatches, and it was at once ascertained that tho cotton stowed in that part of the vessel was on' fire. " ,■!::■

Captain Davidson and his officers immediately took steps to get at the seat of the fire, and for that purpose che hatch was taken o&, and the officers and crew worked with extraordinary energy in getting the burning cotton out of the hold and'on to the deck. '

. Meantime water was copiously poured on the burning mas?, and in less than two hours the flre Was completely got under control. The burning cotton, numbering close on 100 bales, wae taken on deck. When the alarm was given the passengers generally became very excited, but when the extent and nature of the fire was explained to them all possibility of an oprear was at once removed.

Captain "Davidson ajid his officers were presented with an address from the saloon passengers on the following day, thanking them for the prompt and energetic manner in which they coped with what at first appeared a serious" danger to the ship and all on board.