FIRE ON THE INDRADEVI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10488, 22 June 1910, Page 3

FIRE ON THE INDRADEVI.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, June 22. An outbreak of fire was discovered in the forward hold of the steamer ludradevi, berthed at the end of the Queen Street Wharf, at 1.30 a.m. Smoke was issuing from the hold where were stored hardware goods, and when the hatches were lifted the smoke gushed out of the forehold. The Fire Brigade attended smartly, and soon after 2 a.m. a man descended to make an endeavor to locate the seat of the fire, while air was pumped into the hold from the deck. The smoke continue to increase in volume, and at 2.30 a.m. the forward part of the ship was warmer underfoot, indicating that the seat of the outbreak is in the forward 'tween decks, where the cargo consists of iron, salt, and beer in case, the latter being packed in straw. At 3 a.m. an officer inspected the hold, and stated that the tire was confined to No. 1 hold, and as far as he could judge it was under control. The ship's officers, engineers and crew all now entered the hold to assist in suppressing the fire. Two brigades, the Harbor Board fire corps, and all the ships' hose were pumping water into the hold. The fire did not appear very serious, but showed a considerable body of flame. However, it quickly subsided, and the water seemed to be reaching the fire, which is now ascertained to be below the second deck. The firemen worked under difficult conditions, the forehold being filled with smoke, from which a whirling eddv ascended, almost blinding the men at work. At 9 a.m. the fire was still burning, but apparently under control. T , Later. The fire on the Indradevi has now reenmed a serious aspect, and water is being poured into No. 1 hold at the rate of 2400 gallons a minute, but is making apparently no impression. The heat, fumes, and smoke make the work of the firemen and crew increasingly difficult, and already six firemen have been incapacitated while endeavoring to locate the seat of the fire, which has spread to the seamen's quarters, and the latter is absolutely gutted. Aft of No. 1 hold is stored a large cargo of spirits, and should the flames reach this disastrous results are feared. There is no sign of flames at present, but the paint is blistering off the steamer outside the forehold, and dense volumes of smoke shroud the vessel's deck. The cargo in the hold where the fire is burning is all for southern ports. Chemicals sire now being used in an endeavor to extinguish the fire on the Indradevi. Tho cargo consists ot about <00() tons, including: For Auckland —1500 tons': for Wellington—2ooo tons; for Lvttelton—lsoo tons: for Dunedin--1500 tons. In the hold afire arc 460 tons, mostly hardware. Captain Wilkes worked with the officers 3nd crew strenuously all night, and is now prostrated as a result of his exertions.