A HARBOR SENSATION^

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8106, 8 October 1904, Page 2

A HARBOR SENSATION^

[pEBSfI ASSOCIATION.!

. SYDNEY, October 7. The ship Mount Stewart, which'arrived from London on the &6th was discovered to. be on fire at 3.20 this morning. The fire continued to gain steadily and the danger spreading to Parbury's wharf, where she was lying, the Mount Stewart was towed to Berry's Bay and beached. She lay there \vith her bow under water, and still burning. Steamers alongsidecontinued to pour water into the sunken ship.

The outbreak was discovered in the main hold, and spread forward, and it is believed that all cargo forward of the mainmast was destroyed. The ship herself, is badly damaged, many of the plates being buckled. At one time the flames) threatened to envelope the whole of the vessel.

Altogether there were 6000 drums of oil on board, besides large consignment* of paints, chemicals, whisky, and other spirits. At three o'clock tho ship lay on a sandy bottom, with the stern well out of the water, though the seat of the fire was to a great extent submerged. The burning oil and spirits, floating on the water, were blaring fiercely, and threatening the after part of the hull, besides interfering with the work of the nremen by preventing them from approaching at close quarters.