SHIP AFIRE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 1 July 1925, Page 7

SHIP AFIRE

WHILE ALONGSIDE WHARF

MEMBER OF CREW SUFFOCATED

DEATH OF A HERO. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COP YJttIUHT. SYDNEY, June 30. A disastrous fire occurred at three o’clock this morning on the inter-state steamer Camberra, which is berthed at Kino- Street wharf. The fire had a strong hold when it Wa s discovered and the whole vessel amidships was soon a mass of flames, which leached as high as the funnel. Practically an the passenger accommodation was ablaze home of the passengers and crew were’ trapped. 1-our women were brought to the wharf in a semi-con-scious condition. Considerable difiicultv was experienced in getting the stewards out. There wore between forty and fifty people abroad-at the time Their losses are considerable, practically all having to make thenescape in night attire. Owing to the vessel being* held up there were no firemen aboard and the electric lights were disconnected at midnight. It will be some weeks before the vessel! will again be seaworthy. The lire on the Canberra was subdued but the damage done was very severe, particularly amidships, where all the decks <vere gutted When the firemen penetrated the saloon they found the body of a steward. named Reginald Cravtiiorpe, of Melbourne. He had been apparently overcome and had succumbed to the flames. Craythorpe had been engaged in rescue work and made several trips carrying semi-conscious passengers and the stewards to safety. The last, seen of him was when he was returning aboard to make further search. The Canberra was pumped full of water to subdue the flames and has now taken a dangerous list. The origin of the fire is so far a mvstery. It is reported that there were two separate outbreaks. There are rumours of possible incendiarism, but until the police, conclude their investigations the position is doubtful. The fire destroyed the cabins, saloons, smoke-rooms and crew’s quarters amidships. charring and blistering the outside plates. There are indications that the fire started in the back of the seccfnd-class dining saloon. , The Canberra was recently thorough,y overhauled and was practically a new ship. The damage is roughly estimated at over £20,000, but the full extent wide not b e revealed until a carelul examination is possible. The fire was discovered by a watchman early in the morning. It then had a good hold. Some eighty passengers and the crew were sleeping on board. , . . The stewards and stewardesses acted with great coolness and daring, rushing about the ship amid choking smoke and flames at danger to their own lives. Thev roused the sleepers, and all managed to escape, some in then; night clothes only. A number lost- ah their belongings. Two stewardesses who remained on duty till the last had their retreat cut off. They were rescued by a ladder. Graythorne brought a stewardess and o’lady passenger ashore. At the request of the lady passenger, he returned on hoard to secure some of her belongings. While on this mission he was overcome by smoke. His body was later recovered in the music room. Detectives investigating the cause of the fire have been greatly hampered by the conflicting stories of those on board, who, owing to the state of excitement they were in when roused, are unable to definite 1 © locate the starting place of the fire, hut although incendiarism is suspected, no evidence is so far available. AH those on board at the time of the outbreak are ! oud in their praise of Graythorne’s heroism. He kept returning to the burning ship, helping others out of the fire. The chief of the brigade said the outbreak was the hardest harbour fire the brigade had ever been called on to oneli.