FIRE ON THE AOTEA.

New Zealand Mail, 15 February 1900, Page 20

FIRE ON THE AOTEA.

THE VESSEL RETURNS TO PORT.

Speculation was rife on Monday morning when it became known that the Shaw*, Savill 'and Albion Company’s steamer Aotea, which left for London early on Sunday morning, was returning to port under easy steam, but it was not until some time after the vessel had dropped anchor in the stream at 7.35 a.m. that the real cause of her return was ascertained.' When leaving Wellington the steamer faced a tremendous southerly’ sea, which greatly impeded her progress, but she kept on her course until about noon. At this hour a thin line of smoke was observed issuing from an opening near the funnel, and some ominous sparks came floating along the top of the port boiler. The'fire was located near the forward end of the boiler.' Soon a' steady stream of water was being poured on the ignited part, and apparently with good effect. At 8 o’clock in the evening, however, when Captain Evans and the chief engineer, Mr Munro, were on deck, thick smoke was seen curling up from round the funnel. All hands were requisitioned to combat the flames. The engineroom staff and firemen worked admirably. The fire, aided by the coal-dust and oily substances, had crept along the tops of the three big double-ended boilers, and belched over the after end of them like an open furnace. The flames soon established communication with the big 10ft forced draft fan and gear. The engine-room became choked with a thick, evil-smelling smoke, while the heat is described as terrific, and frequently the engineers had to lie down on the floor to breathe beneath the smoke. After about an hour’s suffocating fight in the dark, the flames having fused the electric wires,

A POST OFFICE VETERAN WHO HAS PASSED AWaY,

the fire was got under i’eavy smoke liad cleats’, the broken skvlirfE which had boon cracked by the heat, the eng^L?*’%J| ed a sorry sight. TViof° m PfZ?l fan was buckled un hv :f rco<l draSul ff C tb at £ nt metal had rfiu?^W tI th i e n bG T nngS 011 to the 51 The 10m beams sunnrJr “°°f I over the fan were'SSj* the platform itself is £ collapse. Overhead the w 5 rV”, 311 . direc tions, SiKi the chief engineer’s C a£i« a2l was manifestly in imminent 4 being burnt at sea. nt perifjj ,3* c |? se . ot ‘he ontb, eik r. ( the 5 ' JLd“ the Aotea has caSht' T on each occasion the outlie « occurred at the same pff' 6 ? * on former occasions the fir!' covered and suppressed &£*•*' damage was done. etore Uj Though repairs could nnw'u 3 been effected at sea (H? have necessitated the vesselti only at half-speed for weeks), it was deemed tarn Evans to put to have the necessJ m done with dispatch. sary Whilst in the thick of the fir, J chief engineer, Mr Mnn™ •> tt footing on some J engine-room and fell hS, ? * fl °° r ’ A of 0 | ESsriSTsasCapt. Bendall, on behalf of’ the 'mi underwriters made an day morning, after which a S men from Messrs Cable and cffil! dry started to disconnect the' draught machine, for the purpose of £ mg it repaired ashore. P P