FIRE ON FERRY STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18278, 20 December 1922, Page 9

FIRE ON FERRY STEAMER.

INCIDENT AT SYDNEY.

SENSATION ON CROWDED BOAT.

Hundreds of passengers returning to their hemes at Mosman Bay, on the north side of Sydney Harbour, just after 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, from business in the city, found the roof of the ferry steamer Kanangra on which they v«re travelling burst into flames. Fortunately the flames were checked beiore the startled passengers were in any serious danger. Being a business trjp, both upper and, lower decks of the vessel were crowded. Tho Kanangra had turned the point into Mosman Bay, and was waiting some distance up the bay for another boat to clear an intermediate wharf. The captain of the other boat saw flames shoot out from the roof in the forward end of the Kanangra. He blew his whistle several times to attract the attention of the Kanangra, but as this did not have the desired effect he jumped from his cabin, and waving his arms frantically, called to the Kanangra that she was afire. The flames had 'gained headway by this time. They had nqt eaten through the ceiling, but" nevertheless were only a few feet from the heads of the passengers who filled every seat on the upper deck. Passengers oil the burning ferry had their attention directed to the fire at the same, time as the captain. Most of them left their seats, some crowding to tho side to ascertain the actual danger, while others, principally young women, became fear-stricken. Three, deck-hands climbed on the roof, and with buckets of water, soon had the flames under control. To prevent the possibility of a stampede at the wharf by the startled passengers crowding the gangways to get ashore, the captain took the wise course of standing well out in the bay until the fire had been extinguished, and all danger was past. It is thought that the fire was caused by the heat of the sun melting some of the tar-lining on the roof of the ferry, and that this was ignited by a spark from the funnel.