FIRE ON A STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 12

FIRE ON A STEAMER.

WORK OF AN INCENDIARIST. OUTBREAK IN CHARTROOM-, 0 LITTLE DAMAGE RESULTS. " .A deliberate attempt to set firo to the Australian steamer Woolgar at King's Wharf was mad'e about midnight on Wednesday. but the outbreak was subdued before any great damage had been done. Dcnso smoke and tho crackling of flames awakenod Captain J. McLeod and the wireless operator, who wero sleeping in tho cabins on tho bridge deck. Iho outbreak of fire was in tho chartroom, also on the bridge deck. Tho flames were soon subdued with a patent firo extinguisher by Mr. J. R. Blythe, the chief officer. After tho smoke had cleared away it was seen that the firo had been caused by a quantity of kerosene-saturated waste, which had been placed just inside the chart-room door and' sot alight. The flames from the burning waste had blistered the paint on the door and tho end of tho cushion on tho settee was burned. Tho panelling in the roohi was also blackened by the smolco. No other damage was done.

The matter was placed in the hands of tho police, but no arrests were made.

Tho vessel sailed for Waikokopu yesterday afternoon. The Woolgar is a steamer of 3051 tons and is owned by the Melbourne Steamship Company. She arrived from Bunbury on Sunday with a full cargo of hardwood. After unloading 1600 tons for Auckland sho left for Waikokopu and Napier to complete discharge. The chartroom is situated beside the captain's cabin, from which it is separated by a wooden bulkhea'd. There are two approaches to the chartroom, one from the bridge deck and the other by means of a stairway leading' from the main deck. The person who started the firo is thought to have approached the chartroom by way of the stairway, as in that case there was less chance of him being discovered .in the act by the watchman at the gangway.