Tiie Fire on the Ruahine

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2393, 5 April 1893, Page 3

Tiie Fire on the Ruahine-

(PJBB UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, April 5. By the arrival of the Kuahine there art fall particulars of the fire which occurred l, on board on the passage out. It happened " ai>out 870 miles lrom St Helena Island, {he nearest land, and first appeared in tbe after-bold. Tbe passengers and crew worked hard to extinguish the flames, and tonß of water were poured into the hold. Steam waß also blown in. At nightfall of the fitßt day there were twelve feet of water io the after-oompartment. The ship's fresh provisions were damaged. The captain and a number of others were neatly suffooated by the dense emoke. The boats were got ready in case of - emergency. Tbe uteamer put into St. Helena and the fire was still smouldering When she anchored. Great difficulty was experienced in extinguishing tbe flames. The outbreak is believed to have origin* ated from charcoal insulation in the wall of a refrigerating chamber. A large quantity of oargo was damaged. The fire burned five days. An address wag presented to Captain Bone after leaving St. Helena by the passengers, testifying their appreciation of bis efforts to Bave the ■Wp* . - . One thousand tone of Ruabine'e oargo w*re aeßtroyea or damagea. The \>mk oJ thfc damaged catßo is consigned to Lyttelton and Pott Ohalmetß, bnt th« catgo to all portß has Euffered.