CANBERRA FIRE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18430, 10 July 1925, Page 9

CANBERRA FIRE.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (bt cable—tress association— copttiight.) (atjstitaijaij axd n.z. cable associaxiok.) (Received July oth, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 9. At tho inquest on Reginald Craythome, who was killed by the fire on tho Canberra, tho Coroner returned a tot-'. diet of accidental death from carbonmouoxido poisoning, caused by a fire, but tho evidence did not enable him to aay how tho firo originated. The chief officer of the Firo Brigade gave evidence that when he reached tho wharf tho ship was well alight. "What seemed strange was that tho fire had made such headway before the brigade received tho call. I Counsel for tho owners of tho Canberra said that it might bo suggested that tho fire started in- the carpenter's cabin, and witness replied that it was impossible to say where it originated. A policeman who gave evidence stated that when he noticed the outbreak, smoko and flames wero coming, from tho carpenter's cabin. A steward stated that when he went to the pantry about midnight ho saw tho ship's carpenter, Fleet, with an open flare light in his hand como from his cabin and go towards the locker. Fleet gavo evidence that ho was perfectly sober that night. Ho went to bed at eleven and woke up coughing. He could hear a fire crackling, but thero was no outbreak in his cabin. Witness dressed and went to tho assistance of tho firemen. He emphatically donicd that ho had gone to his locker with a lighted ftaTe. Ho was in bed before tho lights were put out. I

[A disastrous fire occurred on Juno 30th at 3 a.m. on the inter-Stato steamer Canberra, berthed at King street wharf. Tho firo had a strong hold when it was discovered, and tho whole vessel amidships was soon wrapped in flames which reached as high as the funnel. Practically all the passenger accommodation was ablaze. Some of the passengers and crew were trapped, and four women wero brought to the wharf in a semi-conscious condition. The damage to tho vessel was estimated at £20,000. Keginald Craythornc, a steward, brought a stewardess and a lady passenger ashore. At the request of the passenger he returned aboard to secure some of her belongings. While on this mission he was overcome by smoke. His body was later recovered in tho music-room.]