FIRE JUST THE WARRIMOO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 19

FIRE JUST THE WARRIMOO.

NO SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE. MELBOURNE, March 9. Qiveenscliff has reported that a large steamer early this morning was off th-e Heads firing rockets and blue lights. Two fishing boats reported that it was the Warrimoo, with her forehold on fire. The Warrimoo entered, attended by tLe pilot boat, the captain stating that he could keep the fire under until Melbourne was reached. The tug has gone to her assistance. The Warrimoo was found to be on fire at 10.30 last night, when eight miles off Cape Schank. The chief officer reported to the captain that smoke was issuing from the ventilator in No. 2 forehold. The crew w.ere immediately called to quarters, and the boats swung out and provisioned. The fire was in the centre of the fore compartment, adjacent to a lar^e lot of kerosene. There weie also 500 capes of kerosene and benzine stored on deck. Immediately the outbreak was located water was liberally pumped on it andi the deck cargo jettisoned. At the end of an hour, ?s the fire se.-m-'d to have increased, the passengers were called up, first from the steerage and th^n from the cabin, and assembled aft. Not till then had they discovered that anything was wrong. There was not the slightest panic.

The captain decided to return to Melbourne, as there was a danger of the kerosene being ignited) and exploding. He than sent up distress signals, which w.°re answered by the pilot steamers. Just before the tugs, which were sent to the vessel's assistance, reached her the fire was overconv. and their help was declined, and the vessel reached the wharf without further incident. The fire originated amongst some bags of papei shavings, which were packed close to some bags of chaff. An examination showed that many of the esses of k°rosene were reduced to charcoal and the solder

melted, but none of the oil was ignited. The fire brigade nvt the steamer at the wharf, but their sei vices were not required.

The Warrimoo has eight feet of water in her hold 1 . It is believed the vessel is nninjm^d, and after a survey is made she may resume her voyage to-night.

The density of the smoke prevented the chief ofncei-'s attempt to enter the Warrimoo's hold, but when the crew got to work -with th? "hip's fire apparatus tIiLV soon got it under, the fir.s brigade putting the finishing touches to the work at the ■nharf with chemical apparatus Tlv steamer proceeded up the lirer, th.~ damaged cargo was unloaded

A survey is now proceeding, and it is hoped f-o resume tlv voyage a+ midnight.

The fire- was confined to No. 2 h lid forward, immediately beneath the hftches. wherein was stored the general coi»o anil chaff. The jett'sored cargo ircludpil 400 cases of benzine. The captain pays 111411 tribute to the splendid behaviour of th--* crew and passengers. While clLcliai^ua^,

the chief officer fell off a stage into the water, but was none the worse- for th© ducking.

March 10. The Marine Board examination of the 1 TVarrimoo, after her cargo between decks had been discharged, revealed that she was practically uninjured. Permission wa ■ 1 therefore given her to resume her voyage 1 without delay. It is anticipated that she will be in readiness to sail at midnight. Last night Canon Shoebridge (of Tasmania), who was a passenger, invited all to assemble in the saloon for a shoit service. I He offered up prayers and thanks to the j Almighty for the safety of the ship and I her living freight. j A collection was made by the passengers on behalf of the crew. ' At the Marine Board inquiry into the fire on the Warrimoo the senior marine surveyor reported that the decks and hull , had sustained no injury except the buckling of one plate and a slight charring of a small surface 'tween decks. The Govern1 ment inspector of explosives gave evidence 1 as to a careful examination of the seat ■ of the fire. He considered the fire origi- ' ; nated in a bale of paper clippings in immediate proximity to the cases of kerosene. One of the paper bales was imme- ! diately under the ventilator. There was } no evidence of spontaneous combustion. i His opinion was that the fire was commu1 nicated to the bale of paper either by 1 a lighted match or tne ashes from a pipe thrown down the ventilator. The matter was referred to the Nautical Expert Committee for a report. The Warrimoo resumed her voyage early this morning. The Union Company has received a cable regarding the outbreak .of fire on the Warriliioo stating that the damage is not serious, and that the vessel was to re-sail last 1 evening for New Zealand.