IN FLAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 140, 16 June 1930, Page 8

IN FLAMES.

FIGHT TO SAVE SHIP.

FIRE AT HONOLULU.

VESSEL LURCHES AND SINKS

WELL-KNOWN TOURIST LINER,

SALVAGE WORK COMMENCED,

Information of a desperate fight against a fire that swept the steamer City of Honolulu, at Honolulu, on May 25, was brought by the Aorangi, which arrived at Auckland last evening. The Aorangi's passengers saw the vessel's hull alongside one of the quays where it had settled on the bottom with part, of the superstructure still above the water level. The fire had started from unknown causes at about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of Sunday, the 25th, and the vessel, which was the pride of the Los Angeles Steam Ship Company, lurched over four hours later against the.timbers of the wharf and began to sink. During those four hours tugs poured water into the blazing ship in a futile attempt to arrest the devastating progress of the flames. Fire engines assisted in the fight from the wharf, and when the vessel sank it was estimated that she contained 20,000 tons of water. Crowd Jam Streets. Fifteen thousand people jammed all streets leading to the Honolulu waterfront and crowded to within 30 feet of the burning liner. There were 25,000 barrels of oil still on board, and as the fire spread throughout the ship the police took the precaution, at G p.m., of forcing tho spectators back one block for safety in case of an explosion. When the giant, liner started to list a naval tug was forced to leave its position alongside. During the fire smoke belched skywards from the elevator shafts and passage-ways of the vessel. The most critical stage occurred in a brilliant setting. " No one could tell what would happen as the vessel toppled over in the glare of searchlights, and her boom struck the roof of a wharf shed. Later the vessel settled back to a more even keel and touched the bottom. It was the most strenuous fight the Honolulu firemen had ever had. Two of them, overcome by smoke, were carried to hospital shortly before the vessel hit the pier. At S o'clock more thai 200 lines of hose were playing water into the vessel from the port side and aft, where the fire was centred: At that time the ship had. listed to such a degree that the first portholes were taking in water from the harbour. The raging flames inside could be clearly seen.° Four powerful searchlight* had been brought into service at 7:45 p.m. to aid the firefighters, and were so placed as to throw a flood of light on_ to the burning ship. Danger of Explosion. When the vessel touched bottom, at a depth Of 35ft, flames could be seen roaring inside, but they had not broken through the ports. Searchlights from surrounding "vessels played upon the blazin" liner, adding a further spectacular touch. By 8 o'clock the danger of an explosion was believed to be past unless the boiling water came in contact with the oil. All efforts were made by the firemen, throughout the fight, to prevent an explosion, and the harbourmaster reported at one stage: "We are sinking the ship as fast as we can. There was a fear that the intense heat would cause the oil to expand, and possibly bring about an. explosion m that way. ... The scene after dark was a lurid one. Streams of water poured through black smoke from the tugs and other craft which were close to tho stern of the stricken liner. . -.n. Marines were on duty ashore with orders to protect life and property and a barrier was set up through which no one was allowed to pass unless on duty. Previous Disaster Recalled. The liner City of Honolulu, newest of the Lassco fleet of passenger and freight ships, plying between Los Angeles and Hawaii, was well-known to New Zealand travellers, many of whom have travelled on the vessel on tourist trips. She was built on the hull of the old President Arthur and had a displacement of 21,000 tons. Several years ago the former City of Honolulu, which had been engaged in the same service, was; destroyed by fire at sea. The rescue of all her passengers without, .a single casualty was one of the outstanding events in the history of marine disasters. The second City of Honolulu, the vessel now gutted by fire at. Honolulu,and resting on the bottom of the sea, was a first-class liner. Efforts to replace her have been commenced and after the vessel has been partially overhauled and her engines repaired, she will be taken under her own power to San Francisco, where complete repairs will be carried out. The company hopes to have her in running order again in August.

No survey of the damage done to the engines is possible as long as the vessel is under water, but a thorough inspection of the hull has been made by a diver. It is not believed that the engines will bo seriously damaged if the vessel is quickly refloated.