BARQUE ON FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13285, 18 September 1906, Page 6

BARQUE ON FIRE.

MARLBOROUGH HILL ABLAZE.

Thk four-masted barque Marlborough Hill, lying at No. 12 dolphin, on the North Stockton foreshore, Newcastle, was the scene of a disastrous fire in the early, hours of September 10.

The first alarm was given a few minutes' j after four a.m. by the clanging of the | Stockton firebell, closely followed by the boom of the first gun from Signal Hill, and then the bells of the city arid central fire brigades, mingled. with the second and third guns, bore the message that a ship was on fire in the harbour. The crews of the tugs, moored along the wharves on the city side of the harbour were soon astir, but for a time the name of the ship which was in trouble and her exact position was in doubt. The few minutes which passed, however, were not wasted, for they enabled the tugs to increase their pressure, j of steam,' and when, definite word was passed along the salving fleet was soon on the move. In a surprisingly short space of time a squad of police gathered at the Market Wharf, being in charge, and having -with him Sergeants Stove and Brown and Senior-De-tcctive McHattie. The police motorlaunch Gwendoline was quickly brought round from the boat harbour, and a few minutes before the force embarked the pilot steamer was seen to leave her mooring and steam up stream. The Gwendoline made good pace, • and as she was abreast of the New Township Wharf the smell of scorched paint and burning timber told that' there was work ahead of the tugs which were hurrying to the scene.

As the police party drew near the upper dolphin, the masts of the big torque Marlborough Hill stood out clear against the sky, and the smoke which rose from the main and after hatches told that the fire had. a good hold of. the vessel, fvliile the throbs of the pumps indicated that the work op-fighting the flames had commenced. The launch made fast to the outer tug, and it was found that the Rose, Irresistible, and Lily all had hoses over the side of the burning vessel, having arrived in the order named. Other tugs quickly arrived, the Government- steamer Ganymede being among the earliest to get to work. The others on the scene were the Pinafore, Guthrev, Bungaree, Advance, Ripple, and* Enterprise, and two or three smaller craft. When the deck of the Marlborough Hill was gained, if; wms at once seen that the fire had a great hold of the vessel. A detachment of the Stockton Fire Brigade, the crew of the burning vessel, and volunteers from other ships were fighting against big odds, and were shortly after reinforced by the Central, City,, and Newcastle West brigades, who were brought across the harbour in the Ripple. Dense smoke was rising from the main hatch, aft of which the outbreak had occurred. It was no easy task which the brigades had before them, but as each line of hose was brought on board the odds against the flame 6 became greater, and when the fight had continued for the best part of an hour it was generally agreed that the force was sufficient to stop the fire running forward, but it persistently ran aft in spite of all efforts to stay it. It seemed for a time as though the mastery had been gained, but shortly before six o'clock the increasing volume of smoke indicated that the fire had found fresh fuel, and it was stated that it had ■ reached the stores, which included a fair ' bulk of petroleum. Just as the clock struck the hour, great tongues of flame burst through the cabin. This only stimulated the firemen to greater efforts. Hoses were moved to more advantageous positions, and the fire was attacked from below and above. From the land side, the Stockton Brigade's steamer had been at work for an hour or more. It had a hard task, for it Jiad a long draw amd a- considerable height to which to force the water, but every jet told its tale, and the hundred's of , gallons of water not only effectually checked the spread of the fire forward, but gradually beat it where it burned most fiercely. The after part of the vessel was a veritable fiery furnace. The plates on either side and astern were red hot, and at about half-past six o'clock the port rigging of the after mast was sagging. For a time it looked as though it would topple over, but the starboard stays had been reinforced, amd', although the mast settled down 4in or more, it still kept its place. Shortly before seven o'clock the leaping flames again shot through the columns of smoke, but it seemed as though this was the last effort of the fire, for it died down from that out.