PRIZE SHIP AFIRE

Grey River Argus, 31 December 1914, Page 3

PRIZE SHIP AFIRE

OUTBREAK ON LOTHRINGEN

MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. The suspicious series of fires that have occurred on' various steamers in Australian ,and also in other waters since the outbreak of war was extended last week when an outbreak occurred on the Lothringen, lying- alongside the A.U.S.N. wharf at Sydney. Formerly the* Lothringen was one of the German-Australian steamers, but she became a. prize, and has been chartered by the Federal Government to the British India Company, who are using- her to shin on. About 11 o'clock this morning smoke w.as noticed to be issuing from the No- 3 hatch, and aiv .alarm was raised immediately. In a few moments the smoke poured forth in dense black columns, and it" was feared that a big blaze was imminent. Fortunately, lying alongsT^the Lolhringen were two lighters, the Eclipse an<J the Carrington., and they were equipped with strong pumps and hydrants-. Losing no time, the skippers of the two* boats organised a fire-fighting-squad, which was assisted by a num ber of volunteers. In addition to the hydrants mentioned, two on the Lothringen itself were manned, and good streams of water were directed into the hatchway. Nevertheless, for some time they did not seem to have much effect', and the screen of smoke that rose above the building on the wharf drew a big crowd from the neighboring streets. The excitement wa s increased by the fact that a. number of men were working below erecting the horse stalls, and their first intimation of any thing being wrong was when they found themselves in a suffocating at- , mosphere. Without waiting-, they scam pered up the ladders out of the other holds, none fortunately being in. the hold that was affected. There was considerabe anxiety as to whether all of them had got on deck safely, but when they tallied themselves it was found that all were accounted for. The fight went on for an hour before the outbreak was subdued. It was then found that it had originated in the 'tween decks, just bellow the hatchway, and among- a lot of straw and small timber left by the carpenter*, at work on the horse stalls. This inflammable material had given it a good start, and then it had begun on the woodwork of the deck, which was nastily buckled. Otherwise the dam ngc. was slight. There was no cargo in the hold, the hatchway of which had been left oi^en. At present no cause for the fire can lie assigned, but it is_regarded as peculiar in view of the fact it*i s hard to understand how a fire could start accidentally in such a place. An<J suspicions .are sharpened by the fact that the steamer is a prize, ' arid that it is war time.