OIL SHIP ON FIRE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1832, 17 April 1907, Page 45

OIL SHIP ON FIRE

EXPLOSION OF NAPHTHA GAS. GREW HAVE FIERCE FIGHT WITH FLAMES. ADELAIDE. April 11, The steamer Alabama, oil-lade®, from Sumatra, had a narrow escape from destruction by fire while abreast of Java. Two of the Chinese crew, without orders, entered the forepeak with a naked light. A terrific explosion of naphtha gas followed, causing a fire which was only prevented from reaching the hold, where a quantity of benzine was stored, by vigorous measures taken by the crew. The Chinese who were responsible for the explosion were shockingly burned, and died. LINER IN A BLOW. HOBART, April 11. The Paparoa encountered a hurricane during her voyage from Capetown, the passengers being battened down. One of the stewards died last night. LOSS OF A FISHING CUTTER. • ADELAIDE, April 11. ‘ There is little doubt that the -fishing cutter Wanderer has been lost off Kangaroo Island, at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Vincent (South Australia), with three hands. MISSING. PERTH, April. 11. The schooner Harriet Constance, with five hands, which left Fortescue for Cossack on March Bth, is missing. FIRE IN A STEAMER'S STOKEHOLD. MELBOURNE, April 11. The steamer Invertay narrowly escaped destruction on the voyage "from Adelaide. A cross bunker took fir®, and was burning for a couple of hours before the crew succeeded in extinguishing the flames. The Inverts.v is a steamer of 3074 tons, Captain Houghton, trading between New York and Australian ports for the American and Australian Steamship Line.