A MAIL STEAMER ON FIRE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6692, 28 September 1882, Page 3

A MAIL STEAMER ON FIRE.

It appears that the Hamburg-Americao steamer Gellert had a narrow escape of destruction by fire when crossing the Atlantic on her last homeward voyage. The Gellert left New York on July 20, with 270 passengets and a crew of 130. On the morning of July 28 she was discovered to be on fire in the waist of the vessel. The smoke poured up in dense volumes from the aftermost water-tight compartment of the main bold. This compartment was known to contain only sewing machines and tobacco, and bad not been entered since the vessel left New York. Captain Kuhlewein and his officers endeavored to fill the compartment with water, but the fire increased alarmingly, and at 4.30 a.m. Captain Kuhlewein considered it his duty to provide for the abandonment of the ship. The passengers were informed of the danger, and mustered on deek. A portion of the crew set to work to prepare the eight large boats with which the vessel was provided, and to store them with water, provisions, lamps, and compasses. As the fire was entirely below, and could not be influenced by draft, the vessel's engines were kept going ;at half-speed, and her course was altered to due south, to bring her into the most frequented route of the ocean passages, with a view to increase the chance of the boats being more quickly picked up by passing vessels. As the fire continued to progress, and there was great danger of the iron water-tight bulk-heads bulging with the heat and the fire, thus extending to other com partments, it was resolved to break holes in the deck to flood the compartment more rapidly. Two large boles were accordingly cut through the deck. When the wood deck was, cut through, the iron one was found to be red hot. Large apertures having, however, been promptly forced, and the torrent of water that could be thrown by all the pumps being brought to bear, the force of the fire was found to be decreasing. At half-past six it was got sufficiently under for the ship to be considered in safety, when she resumed her usual course, and proceeded for Plymouth. A subsequent examination disclosed that had the fire continued at its height but a short time lunger it must have buret iu upon the state-rooms of the vessel and ensured her rapid destruction. The ladies were sheltered in the smoking-room during the fire, and behaved admirably. Most of the steerage passengers were Polish Jews, whose bowls and screams are described as terrible. When the safety of the vessel was assured, a meeting of the passengers was called to return thanks for their deliverance, and to express their warm appreciation of the conduct of Captain Kuhlewein and the officers and crew. Over one thousand dollars were subscribed to the life saving box kept on board. The damage done by the fire is believed to exceed 10,000 dollars. The fire is attributable to spontaneous combustion in tobacco.

(For continuation of News see fytk page.')