SAILING SHIP ON FIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 12 January 1926, Page 5

SAILING SHIP ON FIRE

BOVS’ PLUCKY FIGHT WITH FLAMES How hoys of from 14 to 18 years of age, who composed the crew of the Kohenhaven, tlie world’s biggest sailing ship, put out a fire at sea and brought tlie vessel safely to port, was described at Plymouth to Admiral Sir Richard Pliillunore, Commarider-in-Chief, Plymouth, when he paid, a private, visit to the ship. When tlie. Kohenliavon. which is manned bv 48 hoys training for officers'.positions with a Danish company, was eiitciing the Channel from the North Sea oon her way to Melbourne, with a. cargo of timber, petrol exploded in the officers’ mess. The officers’ quarters nr.d the cabins at the stern were soon blazing, only an iron bulkhead .separating the flames from the ship's oil tanks. “Much of our 50,000 square • feet of canvas was spread,” said Captain H. Christensen, “arid half of the hoys were detailed to take in the canvas, while the others crawled with a hose to the heart of the fire. “In an hour the danger of the lire spreading had gone, and we re-hoisted sails, and raced for Plymouth." In further conversation the captain expressed his regret tha't British boys entering the Mercantile Marine are no longer trained in “windjammers."