FIRE ON THE WARRIMOO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRE ON THE WARRIMOO.

Tho Union s.s. Company's steamer Warriinoo. 3529 tons, from Sydney, via Wellington, which arrived at Diuiedin on November 14. was discovered to bo on fire early on tho morning of the 15lh. Tho fire occurred in the fcrehold, and is supposed to hive arisen from spontaneous combustion anions some llax and tow shipped at Wellington. Tho fire was discovered at 3.30 a.m., and the ollicere and crew, with the aid of the ship's hoses, kept it in check until the arrival of the City Fire Brigade. The (ire, however, spread from the fovehcld to the forecastle, and when the brigado arrived it was found necessary to knock holes through the. deck to get the leads of water through. 'Phis accomplished, and six leads got to work, n dcciiu followed in which llainc and waten steam, smoke, and determined figures of men, were, intermingled. Altenmls made to get down to the scat of the lire were many, but unavailing. Abaft and above the Sire zone weio stalled 31 hoi ; es cu the main deck-that is, the hold de-.-k immediately below the miner deck. livery horse was lauded without accident ami with hardly any excitement. To extinguish the lire if was .necessary to flooil the hold, and pumping operations 'wero in progress till about 8 a.m., whon the water readied the beams, mid the Warrinioo "drew" about 23ft forward, and found a berth in the soft mud at that depth. Wjieu the fire was extinguished tho wator in the hold was pumped out. The hold contained iia.x, timber, and gencrai cargo, and it was found on discharging that a grot deal of damage had not resulted from the fire. The water wus pumped into thji hold at the rate of 3500 gallons per mmutc and it is no doubt due to tho prompt action thus taken that the whole of tho cargo in Ihe hold was not completely destroyed. The steamer did not suiter any very serious injury. On. the starboard bow a couple of plate.; wero damaged with tho heat, and all damage, which was slight, was above the water line. The Warrimoo went to Port Chalmers on November 17, and berthed at George street pier, where the damage was repaired, and she went into commwiou again on December 1, leaving .for Sydney, via Cook Strait.