FIRE ON OIL TANKER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20960, 25 February 1930, Page 9

FIRE ON OIL TANKER

SENSATION AT NEWCASTLE. A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS. PANIC AMONG SPECTATORS. I (United Press Association.) {3y Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) . CASTLE, February 24. (Received Feb. 24, at 9 p.m.) The modern oil tanker British Honour, a ear S° of 4000 tons of oil, caught fire in Newcastle harbour to-day. A series of terrific explosions occurred, the forecastle Being blown away and the bridge and expensive nautical instruments wrecked. Four members 1 of the crew were injured. This fine new vessel, which is commanded by Captain Collie, suffered extensive damage, but it is believed that the hull is intact. fr ] r p rnen i did wonderful service under difficult and hazardous conditions. The cause of the fire has been traced to a small outbreak at a waterside timber yard, flames from which set fire to oil spilt -on the water. The flames quickly travelled to the tanker. A great crowd watched dense, black smoke rising from the British Honour, and when the explosions occurred, flinging debris in all directions, the spectators were panicstricken and tripped and fell in their frenzy to reach safer points of vantage. The police kept the people away from the. huge storage tanks of the Commonwealth Oil Refinery Company, which were in the danger zone. The injured members of the crew were removed by the ambulance to hospital, most of them having wounds received through falling when rushing away from the vessel. A RACEHORSE DESTROYED ' EYES BURNT OUT. SYDNEY, February 24 (Received Feb. 24, at 11.30 p.m.) * Captain Collie remained on the bridge until he saw the crew safely on the wharf. The forecastle became a mass of flames which leapt 100 feet skyward, one of the masts being alight right to the top Then cam® a succession of dull and louder explosions resembling a broadside from a battleship. The wharf caught fire, and the sheds were destroyed or damaged. Squatting on a .sandy beach nearby were members of the crew with blackened faces, intently watching their s% beingradually reduced to ruins. All were thankful that the fire, bad not occurred at, sea. They spoke freely of the hurried manner of their escape. A strange incident occurred. When the fire began a youth was swimming the racehorse Roseland nearby. The flames on the water enveloped the animal, and its eyes were burnt out, and it had be destroyed. Its owner, Mr W. Bailey only on Saturday refused an offer of £SOO for the horse. THE FIRE SUBDUED. ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE.'. _ SYDNEY-, February 24 (Received Feb. 25, at 0.15 a.m. 1 ) The on hoard the British Honour was subdued this afternoon, fortunately before it reached the oil tanks. The damage is estimated in the neighbourhood of £30,000.