FIRE ON THE APARIMA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 15

FIRE ON THE APARIMA.

PUTS IN AT ALBANY.

IHE CARGO DAMAGED.

COAL STILL .SMOULDERING.

ALLEGED EXAGGERATED

ACCOUNTS

ALBANY, August 20

The T.'nion Steam Ship Company's new steamer Aparima, bound from Calcutta to Dunedin, via Wellington, has arrived with her cargo on fire.

The fire was fir«t noticed smouldering in the Aparima's forward bunkers on Sunday last, but it was not till 11 o'clock yesterday morning, when 70 miles ppst Albany, that the situation became so serious that it wa* decided to put back.

Soon after it was apparent the fire extended to No. 2 hold the latter was uncovered, when the names mounted over the bridge. By concentrating the efforts of the crew on the hold all night the fire was got sufficiently under to allow the batches to be closed down.

Since arrival water has been pumped into the bunkers. Should the appliances aboard prove ineffectual the dredge will be employed to flood the bunker«, in which it is estimated there are 100 tons of coal.

Smoke is still issuing from No^. 1 aud 2 holds and the bunkers. The decks are sprung aud the fittings

damaged

The Aparima has a cargo of 8000 tons of tea and rice. It Ls behevpd 2000 tons in No. 2 hold is badly and a quantity in No. 2 hold considerably damagixl. Augu&t 21.

The latent repoi f - ;ire that the hre on the Union Steam bhip Company's new steamer is still smouldering, but it is being subdued. The deck i 3i 3 badly sprung. The officers' cabin is worched, and it is feared that about 4000 tons of cargo, which includes consignments of jute and spice*-, are damaged. The bunkers contain some 800 ton^ of smouldering coal.

There is nothing fresh to report with respect to the fire on the _.s. Aparima. Au^iM 22.

The work of suppressing the fire on the Aparirna is proving difficult. Constant streams of water were directed on the burning masses of coal on Wednesday night, and with the assistance rendered by the dredge good headway was made, but at 4 o'clock in the morning the flames again blazed up, and assistance had to be summoned from the shore. Last night over 10ft of water "had been pumped in, and the vessel settled down on the harbour bottom, wkich is verj soft.

August 23. The pumps on the Aparima and the ] dredge have been working continuously I since Thursday on the fire, which ex- " hibits signs of abatement. It i« expected that an attempt will be made today to- clear the seat of the outbreak. The bulkhead between the bunker and No. 2 hold is almost fused. The coal and cargo will be removed. It seems i certain that the ship, which has now settled low m the water, has sustained j great damage.

The Union S.S. Company received advee yesterday that their now steamer Aparima, on her first voyage from Calcutta to Dunedin, via Smgapore and Wellington, had put into Albany on fire. A cable message was sent asking for details, and to this a reply was received that the fire had started in the bankers, but had extended to the cargo, which was considerably damaged. It was expected that the fire would be subdued yesterday.

The Union S.S. Company received a cablegvam yesterday morning statute: that the particulars which had been cabled with reference to the fire on the company" & new steamer Aparima were exaggerated. The fire has now been got under completely. It had been confined mainly to the coal bunkers, but had spread to No. 2 hold, which had in consequence to be flooded. The damage, it was thought, was not extensive, and the captain hopeß to bo able to leave shortly. It ii> believed only the woodwork was damaged, and that the ship herself is aU ritjht. The master, officers,, and men worked heroically ia suppressing the fire.