Fire on the Gothic.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 46, 19 June 1906, Page 5

Fire on the Gothic.

Passengers have to Disembark. The following brief account of the fire which occurred on the s.s. Gothic during her recent voyage to England, should bo of more than usual local interest, inasmuch as a Mangonui resident was among the passengers. We refer to Mrs. McKay, wife of Mr. A. McKay, of the Wharf Store. After the Gothic had left Teneriffe, on her voyage to England from New Zealand, a fire occurred on two occsaions in her wool cargo.

A smell of fire was noticed on the steamer on Sunday, June 3rd, and next day it was discovered that No. 4 hold was seriously on fire. A quantity of burning cargo was jettisoned, and steam was injected into the hold.

The fire apparently was extinguished, but on the Wednesday the smell of fire was again observed, and by Thursday morning the fire had made considerable headway, and the passengers were advised to disembark at Plymouth. When the hatches were lifted dense smoko emerged. Two Government tugs gave assistance.

As the fire could not be extinguished the Gothic was towed to the Cattewater (an estuary of the river Plym, and a capacious inner mercantile anchorage, which is protected by the Batten breakwater), her seacocks were opened, and she was beached.

Subsequently the fire was extinguished. All the cabins had been destroyed and the saloon ruined.

The Gothic was a twin-screw steel steamer of 7,755 tons, and one of the largo cargo vessels built for the White Star Line, but trading under the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company.