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Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1927, Page 8

The crew of the British steamer Cranstone (1741 tons), bound from Hamburg to Liverpool with patent fuel, had an exciting 14-hours’ fight with a fire which occurred on board. The vessel raced for Swansea, and was beached at Southend, Mumbles, where three Swansea tugs got the fire under control. When the Cranstone was rounding the Loongships lightship it was found that the cargo was abloze. Two hours later the hatches blew up, and the flames reached a height of 20ft. The danger -was increased by the fact, that there was no bulkhead between Nos. 1 and 2 holds, thus leaving the fire a clear passage through tht. vessel. The master, Captain Thompson, raced for Swansea, the nearest port. Right through the day up the Bristol Channel, with the flames pointing fiery fingers before them and a pall of smoke trainling behind, the crew battled with the flames. Working in shifts, the men were lowered down the burning hold and played the one hose available on the fire. vessel arrived in the Mumbles roads witn her sides red hot.