OIL-TANKER AFIRE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1937, Page 7

OIL-TANKER AFIRE

PACIFIC OCEAN DRAMA CRUISER’S RACE TO RESCUE [by' CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. March 15, 8.30 a.m.). HONOLULU, March 14. The cruiser Louisville, raced 350 miles in less than twelve hours, and rescued eight passengers adrift in lifeboats from the burning British ship Silverlarch. The crew of forty remained aboard, to continue the battle against the flames in the hold, and hope to bring the vessel to Honolulu. They will be aided by a coastguard cutter, which, with four destroyers, are also proceeding at full steam to the'rescue. 'rhe Silverlarch is carrying oil, on route to Manila.. The crew fought the lire for three days, and the flames alternately flaring and receding, but finally becoming so grave that the crew lowered the lifeboats, which were afloat for three hours, before the arrival of the Louisville. STEAMER IN STORM SYDNEY, March 14. The former Patrick Company steamer, Craigend, which , recently bought by 'Chinese’ buyers, and renamed the Haiping, encountered heavy weather while en route to her new owners in China. She wirelessed that she was leaking badly, and had a heavy list. She was 300 miles north of Brisbane, and asked for assistance. The navigation Department wirelessed to the freighter Mildura, which is now standing by, and is accompanying the Haiping back to Brisbane, with all possible speed.

ENGINE-ROOM AWASH BRISBANE, March 15. The last message received from the distressed vessel stated that the pumps were barely able to contend with the influx of water, but the Mildura would escort her to the shelter of Moreton Bay, about 200 miles away. The Haiping, with her engineroom awash and one boiler out of action, is only making half speed. Aboard the steamer are Captain Laloe and his young American wife, three white members of the crew, and 25 Chinese sailors.