OIL TANKER ABLAZE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 76, 25 February 1930, Page 7

OIL TANKER ABLAZE.

TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS. EXCITEMENT AT NEWCASTLE. NEWCASTLE, Feb. 24. The modern oil-tanker British Honor, with a cargo of four thousand tons of oil, caught fire while lying in Newcastle harbour to-day'. Fortunately, the fire was subdued before it reached the oil tanks. A series of terrific explosions occurred. The forecastle was blown away and the bridge and the expensive nautical instruments were wrecked. Four members of tho crew were injured. The damage to the British Honor, which is commanded bj Captain Collie, is estimated in the neighbourhood of £30.000. The cause of the fire has been traced to a small outbreak at a waterside timber yard, the flames from which set fire to some oil spilt on tho water, which quickly travelled to the tanker. A great crowd watched the dense black smoke rising from the British Honor, and when the explosions occurred, flinging debris in all directions, the spectators became panicstricken, and tripped and fell in their frenzy to reach safer points of vantage. The police kept people away from the huge storage tanks of the Commonwealth Oil Refinery Company, which were in the danger zone.

The injured members of the crew were removed by ambulance to hospital. Firemen did wonderful service under difficult and hazardous conditions.

At the height of the outbreak the forecastle became a mass of flames, which leapt 100 feet skyward. One of the masts was alight right to the top. Then came a succession of dull, loud explosions, resembling a broadsidg from a battleship. The wharf caught fire, and the sheds were destroyed or damaged. Squatting on the sandy’ beach nearby were members of the crew with blackened laces intently watching their ship gradually reduced to ruins. All were thankful the fire had not occurred at sea.

Captain Collie remained on the bridge until he saw the crew safely on the wharf.

A strange incident occurred when tho fire began. A youth was swimming the racehorse Roseland netfrby, when the flames on the water enveloped the animal. Its eyes were burnt out and it had to bo destroyed. The owner, Mr W. Bailey, refused an offer of £SOO for the horse oil Saturday.