SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN A NAVAL COAL DEPOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10968, 24 January 1899, Page 5

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN A NAVAL COAL DEPOT.

An outbreak of fire was discovered in one of the naval coal stores at the Torpedo Depot, Kowloon, China, last month. News by the Eastern mail which arrived in Sydney on January 11, states that the fire was first discovered shortly before midnight. Alarm signals were hoisted, a gun was fired by H.M.s. Tweed, and reserve ships sent assistance immediately. In a short time no less than eight sets'of hose were playing on the coal stack. In a thick, smoky atmosphere the bluejackets dug into the heart of the stack, which was most uncomfortably warm. The engines poured on water for about four hours, until it stood about 2ft deep in the floor of the shed. The men from the ships and the yard, with the assistance of coolies, worked in relays, in removing the coal from the stack to lighters and to another compartment in the shed. All through the night the work was continued, tlio engines being kept ready to pour on water should the fire break out again. At four o'clock on the following afternoon, the stack was still smouldering, and the men were busily at work removing the coal. There are about 35,000 tons of coal stacked in the stores, and it is due to the plu&y men-o'-warsmen that the fire was kept within bounds.