FISHING SMACK BURNT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13979, 8 February 1909, Page 5

FISHING SMACK BURNT.

CREW RESCUED BY FERRY STEAMER.

AN ALARMING EXPERIENCE.

When the Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Condor was returning to Auckland on Saturday night, with about 800 excursionists from Motutapu, Captain A. Beehre., who was in command of the vessel, noticed a big blaze on the water between North Head and Rangitoto Island. He immediately altered his course, and proceeded in the direction of the fire, and on approaching it saw that the well-known auxiliary fishing boat Gloriana, No. 42, was on fire with six men aboard.

The discovery created some alarm on board the Condor, especially among the lady passengers, some of whom shrieked with fright, while two or three of them fainted at the sight of the burning craft. Deeming it inadvisable to go too near the Gloriana with the steamer, Captain Beehre at one-? brought the Condor to a standstill, and had a boat launched. With assistance, he rowed over to the yacht and rescued four of the men, who weie perched for'ard. In the meantime a yacht came upon the .scmo and rescued the remaining two men. All were then placed on board the Condor and brought on to Auckland, reaching the wharf about nine o'clock. The Gloriana, it is stated, burnt to the water's edge and then sank.

Those on board had a very narrow escape from death, and it is fortunate that the Condor noticed the burning boat, as there was no dinghy aboard the Gloriana. It has not been definitely ascertained how the fire occurred, but it is stated that a kerosene lamp upset and set fire to a quantity of benzine.