CREW OF TELEMACHUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20419, 22 November 1929, Page 14

CREW OF TELEMACHUS.

\ FIRE-FIGHTING AT SEA. | ORDEAL LASTS 12 DAYS. MELBOUHXE. Nov. 21. The unenviable experience of the crew of the steamer 'l'elemachus in their 12 days' battle against fire'in the coul cargo in the Indian Ocean was again related upon the arrival of the vessel at. Melbourne yesterday. ■. The crew consisted of 69 men, of whom 39 wsii-o Chinese. When tho firo was discovered volunteers went down, the holds, but tboy were repeatedly driven back by fumes and smoke. Somotimes they were lost to view and were hauled back on deck with life-lines, JJv repeated visits to the seat of the file the crew were able to dig trenches among the coal. Once Hjere was a terrific-explosion which shook the ship and lifted a hatch off the forward hold. The boats were Mvniig out in readiness for emergency. was tossing in angry seas all tho time. Her radio aerial was carried away. The fires in the two holds burned lor the 12 days and filially great volumes of water were directed into the holds by means of out-size hoses made from pieces of canvas • sewn together. her^tr-p' n ° W '°°k s httle the worse for