FIRE ON STEAMER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9980, 10 July 1925, Page 5

FIRE ON STEAMER.

INQUEST ON CRAYTHORN. Electric Telegrapfi—Press Association SYDNEY', July 9. At the inquest on Cray thorn, who was killed in the fire on the Canberra, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death from varlion monoxide poisoning, caused by fire, but the evidence did not enable him to say how the fire originated. The chief officer of the fire brigade gave evidence that when he reached the wharf, the ship was welL alight. What seemed strange uaq that the fire had made such headway before the brigade received a call. Counsel for the owners of the Canberra said it might lie suggested the fire had started in the carpenter’s cabin and witness replied it was impossible to say where it started. A water policeman who gave the alarm gave evidence that when he noticed the outbreak, smoke and frames were coming from the carpenter's cabin. A steward stated that when lie went to the pantry at about midngiht he saw the ship’s carpenter. Fleet, with ait open flare light in his hand, come from his cabin and go towards his locker. Eleet gave evidence that he was perfectly sober that night. He went to bed at eleven and woke up coughing. He could hear «■ fire crackling, hut there was no outbreak in his cabin. Witness dressed and went to the assistance of the firemen. He emphatically denied ho had gone to his locker with a lighted flare. He was in bed before the lights went out.