CANBERRA FIRE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2728, 10 July 1925, Page 4

CANBERRA FIRE.

INQUEST ON CRAYTHORN. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Thursday, IJ. p.m.) SYDNEY, July 9. At the inquest on Craythorn, who was killed in the fire on the Canberra, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death from carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by Are, but the evidence did not enable him to say how the fire originated. The chief officer of the fire brigade gave evidence that when he reached the wharf, the ship was well alight. What seemed strange was that the fire had made such headway before the brigade received a call. Counsel for the owners of the Canberra said it might be suggested the fire had started in the carpenter’s cabin and witness replied it was impossible to say where it started. A water policeman who gave the alarm gave evidence that when he noticed the outbreak, smoke and flames were coming from the carpenter’s cabin. A steward stated that when he went to the pantry at about midnight, he saw the ship’s carpenter, Fleet, with an open flare light in his hand, come from his cabin and go towards his locker.

Fleet gave evidence that he was perfectly sober that night. Ho went to bod at eleven and woke up coughing. He could hear a fire crackling, but there was no outbreak in his cabin. Witness dressed and went to the assistance of the firemen. He emphatically denied he had gone to his locker with a lighted flare. He was in bed before the lights went out.