FIRE AT SEA

Evening Star, Issue 20316, 26 October 1929, Page 24

FIRE AT SEA

LOSS OF SILTONHAIL GRAPHIC STORY TOLD There was nothing in the unobtrusive arrival of the cargo steamer Anthea at Yarravill, Australia, on October 9 to indicate the stirring nature ot the experieuces of the thirty-eight men who stood about her decks (says the ‘ Argus ’). These men—officers and crew of the coal tramp steamer Siltonhall. which was abandoned while burning in the Indian Ocean, 2.000 miles from Perth, on the night of September 21—were reluctant at first to speak ot the incidents of that night and of the two days and a night during which they drifted in lifeboats in a fierce storm. The chief officer of the Siltonhall (Mr N. Hartley) and the wireless operator (Mr W. Houldershaw) told the story of the destruction of the Siltonhall. The ship left Iramingham (England), they said, late in July. The voyage waa_to Melbourne direct, but at Durban the Siltonhall anchored to bunker coal. The voyage was uneventful until several days after the Cape had been left. Gas fumes were detected escaping from the ventilators of No._ 3 hold. _ Increased temperature readings indicated lire caused by spontaneous combustion, and men were set to work to trim the coal away above the assumed position of the fire. Water was played on the coal, but the fire continued. HATCHWAY BLOWN UP. “ About 8 o’clock on Saturday night, September 21,” Mr Hartley said, “ the disaster occurred. An explosion of gas, which shook the ship from end to end, carried the hatchway of No. 3 bold high into the air, and almost immediately the hold was a mass of flame. In a few seconds two more explosions occurred, the first of these being particularly violent. The danger that the ship’s boilers might explode through heat was great. So fierce were the flames that the steel decking plates buckled and the water service was dislocated. Hoses which had been run out on the deck were burned, and all hope of extinguishing the fire passed. About half-past 9 o’clock the master (Captain H. G. Harrison) ordered the crew into the boats. In the meantime the wireless operator, who had been in communication with the Anthea since leaving Durban, had sent messages defining our position and calling for assistance. The last message stated that wo were about to stand by in the boats. The task of launching the two lifeboats was extremely difficult. A heavy southwesterly swell was making the burning ship roll, and as she did so the seas beat the boats inboard. Precautions taken before the explosion occurred helped us then, and the boats which had previously been swung out were lowered eventually without mishap. The captain had charge of the starboard boat, and with him were the wireless operator, the second officer, chief engineer, third engineer, chief steward, an apprentice named Bradley, and thirteen men. Bradley was suffering severely from shock. Ho and an Arab were m No. 3 hold when the explosion occurred. Bradley was blown between decks against a stanchion. He«was bruised and severely shaken, but recovered.

EXPLOSIONS IN RED-HOT SHIP. When we had cleared the burning ship we found the weather stormy, and I decide that our best position was in the lee of the Siltonhall. The men kept at the oars to avoid cramp. The Siltonhall by this time was an awe-inspir-ing sight. From her deck to the sea level on her leo side she was red hot. Explosions were occurring intermittently. Heavy rain and increased wind added to our discomfort and danger. Then the boats were separated. Wo continued at the oars in pouring rain, just holding our position in the lee of tho burning ship, from which we could distinctly hear the roar of the flames. In this way our boat, with eighteen men—the captain's boat had twenty on board—weathered the night. “ When daylight came we could not sec the other boat. After consultation we decided that it would be worth the risk to return to the ship for more provisions The cook, the third officer, and I wore able to climb on board, and, keeping away from the fire, managed to break open a provision locker and secure some tinned Fruit, butter, and biscuits. As we made our way down the line to the boat again we dropped a tin of butter into the ‘ ditch,' where wo could see it floating. Before we cold recover it a large albatross swooped down, and the tin disappeared. Ho must have punctured it with his bill, RED BLANKET AS SIGNAL. “ We kept a constant watch for the Anthea, which had replied to our call for assistance. I rigged a red blanket on the mast of our boat to attract attention. Our position was then a little better, until a whale appeared. He rose close to the boat, and Four albatrosses hung about watching us. All that day we tried to keep up our spirits, hoping that the burning snip would attract attention Conditions were much the same on the second night as on the first, and the captain’s boat, which was on the weather side of the Siltonhall, was lost to sight. The gale became worse, and wo were becoming exhausted. Early on Monday, however, the wind changed and the sea moderated. Throughout that day we drifted about near the Siltonhall, pulling on the oars for exorcise. About half-past 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon, after forty hours in the boats we were pulled on board the Anthea, which had made a fast trip to our assistance. Wo had nothing hut the clothes we wore.” SHIP LEFT A “ HOPELESS ” WRECK. Captain Harrison said that he returned to the Siltonhall on the Sunday morning, accompanied by the wireless operator and chief steward, to use the wireless equipment. A message was received that the Anthea was coming at full speed. Mr Houldershaw said that one oi the chief fears before the Sittouliall had been abandoned was that the fire in the bunkers might destroy the lifeboats. The decks were red hot within half an hour of the first series of explosions. The master of the Anthea (Captain W. G Tulloch) said that when the position of the Siltonhall as broadcast had been reached after a race at the Amthea’s highest speed there was no sign of the disabled ship. Allowing for the probable drift, a fresh course bad been set, and about a quarter of an hour later the first boat, with the chief of the Siltonhall in charge, had been picked up. Mr Hartley had indicated the probable position of the captain’s boat, awl an hour later it had been brought alongside. The Siltonhall had been left a hopeless wreck and still burning.