FIRE ON A FRENCH BARQUE
♦ . I— EXCITING EXPERIENCES OF THE $. CREW.
(PRESS ASSOCIATION* TEUvGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 12. The crew of the French barque Bongainville, 2350 tons, which arrived to-day from New York, had an exciting voyage. On -November 27th, when about 25 miles from the lonely island of Tristan D'Acunha, a fire was discovered in the hold below the cabin., where 3000 casea of kerosene and all the ship's stores were. The cabin was battened down and wet sails were placed over the ventilators. The smoke continued "to increase in volume, and by the afternoon was issuing from the adjoining hold, in which thousands of cases of naptfia were stored. Fearful of an explosion the sails were clewed up, and the crew, lowering the boats, rowed away for a distance of a quarter of a mile. They spent a couple of hours in the boats, and then returned to the vessel, on which they spent an anxious night. Next morning, the smoke still oerling up in thick clouds, no attempt could be made to locate the fire, as to open the hatches wonld have meant destruction through the admission of air to the seat of the outbreak. The captain then bore up for Tristan, and after some trouble found an anchorage. The fire continued to burn day atter day, .and some trouble was experienced with the crew, who viewed the situation with alnrrn, the ship being fully loaded with kerosene and bennine. On one occasion a heavy gale -sprang up, and the vessel dragged her . anchors until close in shore. Warned by the islanders the crew landed. through the ; surf. The gale abated next .day, and a return was made to the vessel. At last tho donkey engine was got into working order," and holes being bored in.the deck, volumes of water were pumped below. This had the desired effect,, and after fifteen days' stay at the island the ship weighed anchor and put to sea again. At a subsequent stage of the voyage the vessel passed through a number of huge icebergs, a collision being narrowly averted on one occasion.
FIRE ON A FRENCH BARQUE
Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12091, 13 January 1905, Page 5
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