HURRICANE AND FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19469, 27 October 1926, Page 17

HURRICANE AND FIRE.

FLAMES IN SHIPS HOLD. CREW'S SUCCESSFUL FIGHT. EXCELLENT WORK BY LASCARS. [from our own correspondent.] ■SYDNEY. Oct. 22. Officers of tho British India Line steamer Janus told a thrilling story of a successful fight of a fire in the ship's hold during her voyage across the Australian Bight when the vessel arrived at Adelaide at the, end of last week. The Janus was steaming in the teeth of a hurricane early one morning laden with kapok and corn sacks, when a fire was discovered in No. 3 hold. The outbreak was attributed to spontaneous combustion, and 100 tons of burning cargo had to be jettisoned. When the fire was first detected, many bales of kapok were blazing furiously. It was at first feared that the whole of the vessel would be enveloped, but the Lascar crew, directed by the officers, succeeded in stemming the flames. The alarm was given by Lascar saloon boys on the shelter deck aft, who were awakened by the smoke and fumes, and they lost no time in calling the officers. A hurricane was raging from the northwest, and to give the minimum draught to prevent the fanning of the flames, the vessel's stern had to he kept to the wind. Confused seas added to the troubles of the fire fighters. Waves repeatedly smashed over the Janus, and the construction of the vessel made firefighting hazardous. Built for the carriage of horses, her shelter deck has no bulkheads. Endurance of the Workers. For a time it was feared that the flames would sweep the whole length of the deck. In the smoke-filled engine room, the engineers and Lascar stokers worked with every ounce of effort to keep up a good head of steam to enable full pressure. to be given to the six lines of hose directed on the fire. Remarkable endurance was shown f>v those who had to work in smoko fumes, coal dust and intense heat. It was several hours before there was any sign of the fire having been checked, and several times the danger of the flames spreading along the whole length of deck became exceptionally grave. Hundreds of tons of sea water were poured into the holds, and cabins were flooded to a depth of 4£ft. The fire was kept to port, causing the steel plates to buckle on the decks, and the pitch between the wooden plank decking began to boil, while planks laid on the steel deck began to smoulder. Holes were driven through this deck to permit water to l>e poured through into the hold. The water rose to sft., and found its way into the lower holds, which were also laden with jute goods. Through a door in the side of the ship, usually used for loading horses, 100 tons o'f burning cargo was jettisoned. Ho Need for Assistance. A couple of nearby steamers hastened to the aid of the Janus when the latter sent out wireless signals, but when they arrived on the scene the fire had been controlled. The officers of the Janus praised the efforts of the Lascar members of the crew. They said there was no sign of panic among them. No one was injured during the fire-fighting, though many of the men were severely blistered, and others suffered from eye trouble caused by the smoke.