FIRE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 9

FIRE TRAGEDY

SYDNEY FERRY-BOAT FIVE MEN TRAPPED ONE FATALLY BURNED GALLANT RESCUE WORK lIOLE CUT IN VESSEL By Teletrraph—rress Association—Copyright (Receiver! November 1(>, 10.'JS p.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. 1(1 Five workmen were trapped this afternoon in a fierce fire which practically destroyed one of the Manly ferry-boats, the Bellubera, at the company's private wharf at Neutral ]!ay. All were rescued alive after desperate and courageous efforts by the firemen, but one man died on the way to hospital. The Bellubera had just been thoroughly reconditioned and converted from steam to an oil-burner. The men were in the engine-room, which suddenly burst into flame. The tire barred their exit. One man shouted the alarm through a porthole. Fire brigades poured tons of water on •;he flames, and finally cut a large hole in the side of the vessel with oxyacot.vlone blowpipes. I Through this hole two firemen, wearing asbestos suits, entered the ship and | carried' the workmen through the | dense smoke and fumes to the wharf, j The large crowd which gathered won- ! dercd how it was possible that the men could be alive The boat was burned to the water's edge, and the damage is estimated at £.50,000.