Heroic 24 Hour Fight To Save Burning Rimutaka

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 10

Heroic 24 Hour Fight To Save Burning Rimutaka

t Special to “Northern Advocate ”] • AUCKLAND, This Day. YITETH HER FOREBECK PILED HIGH WITH BURNT AND DAMAGED CARGO, THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY’S LINER. RIMUTAKA. BERTHED AT 8 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING, THUS ENDING A VOYAGE MARKED BY THE SENSATIONAL OUTBREAK OF FIRE WHICH ENDANGERED THE SHIP FOR NEARLY TWO DAYS. The fire, which reached serious proportions, was confined entirely to the hold and was fought from the en closed space of one cabin. Passengers jaw little other than volumes of steam. Behind this, however, is a story of orderly heroism by the captain, officers and crew and the calmness of the passengersc from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning. \ *> .Captain C. B. Lamb remained on the bridge for over 24 hours. Chief officer R. L. "Warren and the second officer J. Trotter descended into the burning hold and led the heroic fight against the flames.

Fiddling While Ship Burned, While the passengers were in one of the lounges listening to an impromptu violin recital by Mr Maurice Clare, late of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, officers and crew were fighting a grim battle, to save the ship. Through a hole bored into the steel floor they were pouring carbon dioxide from cylinders, and also jets of steam. So intense was the heat in the cabin that the paint from the walls and floor melted. The fire fighters worked on, for nearly 24 hours, and, on one occasion, were in- serious danger when a steam hose broke loose from a hole in the floor and thrashed about the floor its 1801bs. pressure of steam. “We got out from there in a hurry,” said Chief Officer Warren. “The second engineer, Mr H. Duckworth, received a crack in the back from the hose but, luckily for him. he didn’t get any steam.” 24-Hour Battle. From Sunday 2.30 p.m. until Monday 3 p.m.. Captain- C. B. Lamb remained on the bridge. No S.O.S. was sent out from the ship, but in response to a request, the American tramp Yomachichi cattle to ‘ the assistance and stood by for some hours.

The fire was first observed when smoke was seen by the officer of the watch, Mr J. Trotter, coming from ventilators on the foredeck. At the same time Mr R. Fenton, town councillor of Dundee, who occupied a’.cabin on C deck, observed smoke coming from the ventilator leading from the hold near his cabin, and heard the crackling of flames. Officer Injured.

The captain was immediately informed, and steps were taken to locate the seat of the fire. The top of No. 3 hatch was lifted and Warren and later Trotter were lowered into the hold. So dense was the smoke that they , could not see more than a few feet but eventually they saw flames arising as the air from the hatchway penetrated.

Rumours were current that Trotter had been overcome by smoke as he had to be lifted out of the hatchway, but the fact was that he had knocked his head as he was being drawn up .and was temporarily dazed. Spontaneous Combustion.

Telling the story of the fire today, Warren said that it originated in some bales of woollen goods in No, 3 hold on the upper tween decks. It was undoubtedly spontaneous combustion that was responsible. In that hold, also, were .a number of manufactured articles that could not be identified—bales of pulp paper, paint, linseed oil, and cased motor cars.

That no further damage was caused was due to the fact that the fire was discovered soon after it originated. Every day precautions were taken to see that everything was all right in the hold. Temperatures of the holds were taken daily, and on Sunday morning the temperature of No. 3 hold was normal, so that the fire could not then have been burning. Holes were bored in the floor T of Fenton’s 'cabin, and a 24 hours’ fight ensued. Passengers Keep Calm. Throughout the experience, passengers remained largely unaware of the extent of the blaze, but they knew that part of the ship was on fire. They were absolutely calm throughout.

By Tuesday all danger had passed. Admiration of the splendid handling of a dangerous situation by the captain. officers and crew, was expressed last night when a testimonial, signed

by every passenger was presented to Captain Lamb by Vice-Admiral Somerville. a passenger from England.

Damage To Cargo. Damage to the cargo cannot yet be estimated.

Apart from the pile of damaged cargo on the foredeck, a quantity oi inflammable goods from the burning hold were jettisoned at sea. Underwriters and Auckland consignees are now inspecting the cargo being unloaded. The ship’s hold was fairly extensively damaged, mostly by heat, and bulkheads were also buckled.