TRAINING SHIP ON FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 15477, 27 April 1914, Page 5

TRAINING SHIP ON FIRE

290 BOYS RESCUED "WITHOUT PANIC. The Wellesley Training Ship, which has lain in Shields Harbor for- many years and done magnificent sen-ice in training boys, took fire on March 9. She bad 290 boys on board at the time of the outbreak. They were just then at school." and immediately the fire bell was sounded the response was prompt, for m a remarkably short time ressels equipped with fire engines were [Deeding to the scene. One of the first agencies at hand to render succor was the lifeboat Tom Perry, from the North Shore, which was launched and manned in a few minutes. The tug Vigilant went with all speed alongside the vessel to take off the boys. The boys at school.were in charge of the head master, Mr Chadwick, who ordered the lads to go through the fire drill, and they filed on deck in perfect order. Mr Chadwick, in an interview, said that the discipline of the" boys was admirable > and there was nbt the slightest sign of panic. The boys were let down to the lifeboat by two ladders, and reached the lifeboat and a tug without receiving any injury. They were transferred to H.M.S. Satellite. In the meantime, the officers of the Wellesley had manned the vessel's fire pumps, assisted by some of the boys, but the fury of the flames could not be reduced until afterwards. Within 10 minutes from the discovery of the outbreak over a dozen tugs began to fix their fire hose. The Tyne Commisrionefs' officials, with their powerful fire tugs Coble Dene and Patrol, in charge of Chief-constable Jamieson and Captains Frith and Tindle, speedily boarded the vessel and attacked the flames. The fire had apparently got a hold in the forward part of the vessel, and very soon the flames were bursting out at the sides and from the main deck. Several instances of heroism among the boys are recounted. One young lad, named Gooder, when the discovery was first made, joined his shipmate, Gordon, against all warnings. He found a lot of linen and clothes on fire, and attempted to put the flames out, and was only beaten back by the flames. Other boys reluctantly relinquished their duties at the pumps, and many personal appeals were made to the officers to let them stay aboard to do something for the safety of their old ship. It is related af a youth who, when the alarm was given, became anxious about the captain's baby that his first thoughts were for its safety, and he promptly invaded the captain's quarters, picked up the child, and ran out on the deck, where he handed it to one of the officers. The captain's wife and family, who were on board at the time l were got safelv out of the ship, their coolness and bravery being exemplary. The "Wellesley was one of the last of the old "wooden walls" of England. She was formerly H.M.S. Boscawen, built at Woolwich, and launched on April 3, 1844. She carried 14 guns, and was last employed on foreign service on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa station as the flagship «'f the Hon. Sir F. W. 3rey, K.C.B. She we; paid off at Devonport in September, 1860, being one of the last sailing line of battleship* in the service After five hoars the Wellesley sans, just Afcg-< rnfifra lb"*"— J"** "T*'