THE OVALAU.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7833, 5 November 1903, Page 2

THE OVALAU.

"TWO BLACK SHEEP."

Received- 5, 9.55 a.m. . SYDNEY, November 5.

A passenger expresses his opinion thai under certain conditions copra niighc generate highly inflammable or even ax plosive gases. He states the explosion of the boilers was a magnificent sight. Only one or two of the male passenger.;, and none of the ladfes, knew of the out-, break of tho lire till the Ovalau' reached Lord Howe Island. To the everlasting' discredit of two members of the crew, it : was recorded that while the ship wns being rapidly destroyed by iire they stole away from comrades who were working ««t high pressure to save as much as possible from the burning ship, and forced . n .n entry into the trade room, where the liquor was stored, and having found the supply, they partook freely, and in a short space of time were practically in a helpless condition. When .the fire. gained such dimensions that it was 'imperative to abandon her, the captain called the;, small company left on board, one boa^ load, and intimated that they must leava immediately for shore. It was then discovered that the two missing men were enjoying themselves in the trade room, unconscious of tho' danger in which they were placed. They were implored tp -leave, but declined to go on deck. It- was impossible to make them understand that their lives were in gpaat jeopardy. Captain Todd. upon learning what had occurred, rushed below through dense volumes of smoke and fumes f rom ,- burning copra, and entering the trade room, caught the men by their necks, one at each hand, and by an almost superhuman /effort dragged them up the staircase of the burning vessel, and the helpless men were lowered over the side into the boat. • '