LINER BEACHED IN SYDNEY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26513, 30 August 1951, Page 7

LINER BEACHED IN SYDNEY

Fire Breaks Out In Hold

ffiec. 11.30 p-m.) SYDNEY. Aug. 29 s A tig fire aboard the Burns, Philp Kner dulolo <8397 tons) was axtingui ,aed to-night after the vessel had b< n towed from her berth in Sydney, I ached in Berry's Bay, and the holds flooded. The decision to beach the vessel was made er 100 firemen, three firefloats, water e-s. and members of the crew had felled, alter a four hours’ fight, to gstinguish a cargo of blazing copra in the liner's held*. The *ulola is valued at about f Wat-rsiders fled from the No. 3 held when copra bags burst suddenly into flame. The ship's officers covered all ventflrtors to smother the flames and Botifici fire headquarters. This measure failed, and firemen wearing reteintors were unsuccessful in attempts ta fight their way through the dense, 'choking smoke to reach the seat if the blaze. After to minutes, during which even the dost modern apparatus would not keep out the smoke, the order was Riven to flood the hold. Volunteers dragged stack? of copra from the alport red-hot bulkhead separating the holds and hoses were played on the bulkhead. At 12.20 p.m. the ship appeared in a precarious position, listing *t nearly 40 degrees away from the Wharf, with smoke pouring from the wte. The flooding of the hold was ceased, and carbon dioxide gas was pumped into the ship, but this *lso failed to R uen ch the outbreak. Suddenly, at 12.45 o’clock, the ship •vung over and took a violent list in “e opposite direction, hanging over we wharf. At 3 o’clock officers and firemen were struggling to rectify the checked was ra^n ® un " Several explosions have occurred, but nobody has been injured. In atto reach the seat of the outweak 10 firemen have been overcome £ !? Qk V have received treatment wharf. tu® began to tow the liner ~ i c ® “ er .berth, her list became more she was in danger of cap-