FIRE ON A GREAT LINER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11123, 24 July 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

FIRE ON A GREAT LINER.

SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM ON i BOARD THE OCEANIC.

NEW YORK, June 3. The great White Star liner Oceanic was damaged by a nre which is believed to have been of incendiary origin. The outbreak was discovered shortly after midnight, and the crew of 520 men were immediately called to quarters and quickly reinforced by tlie city fire brigade. For more than five hours- the men battled with raging flames in the stem hold of the vessel, and it was not until twenty men had been rendered insensible by deadly fumes, arising from 150 burning barrels of glucose that the peril was overcome.

It is announced, this afternoon that a*oart from the loss of a quantity of steerage bedding the damage was confined to the hold. A considerable part of the cargo, however, including stage scenery belonging to Mr Forbes Robertson was destroyed. While the company as yet makes no definite charges, the significant fact remains that since the beginning of the longshoremen's strike no fewer than three fires have occurred at the "White Star docks. Tlie Oceanic was loaded for her coming voyage to Europe by her own crew, to tlie great mortification of the strikers, whose, threats against the vessel caused the authorities to place twenty Pinkerton detectives on board. The steamship officials refuse to give an estimate of the total damage, but say that the Oceanic will start for England on Wednesday at the usual time.