FIRE ON STEAMER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 3

FIRE ON STEAMER.

CANADIAN PIONEER AT AUDK LAND, OUTBREAK BEING SUBDUED. (Per Press Association.', AUCKLAND, this day.

The Canadian Government, steamer Canadian Pioneer, arrived from Napier last night and berthed at Queen’s wharf. Cargo was worked for four hours, and then everything appeared safe. This morning when the sailors removed Hie hatches at 7.30, smoke issued from No. 2 hatch. Though the fumes from the burning cargo made the task difficult, two gangs of waterside workers shifted from 40 to 50 tons before they were compelled to cease, two of their number being very sick owing to the fumes. It is believed the fire worked from the coal bunkers, or through the bulkhead into No. 2 hold on the* starboard side at the bottom of the vessel. There were also signs of fii’p in the bunkers. Two hoses were connected with the bunkers, and two with the hold, lhe fire iloat on the starboard side is pouring in 15,000 gallons of water hourly, and the big Dennis pump, worked by the Fire Brigade, an additional 36,000 gallons hourly. At 10 o’clock smoke was still issuing, but it appeared that the fire was being kept under. No. 2 hold contains wool, flax, casein, and possibly tallow loaded in southern ports, including Bluft, .Lyttelton, Wellington, and Napier, consigned to New York, Boston, and Halifax. Under tho direction of Fire Superintendent Wilson and the harbormaster, oxy-acetonc drills were worked on the hull of the Canadian Pioneer, just under the bridge, which seemed the true seat of the tire. There the plates of the ship had bulged preceptibly with the enormous heat, and the paint had blistered off in great sheets. Tho work of blowing these holes was difficult and dangerous. A strong N.T.. wind had raised a swell. The firefloat rose and fell alarmingly. A stage was lowered for tho men with blowers to work from, but it was found impossible to work this owing to the terrific heat of tho hull, and the job was done from lhe deck of a- small T vessel. >Six inch circles were perforated by the blower; then a sledge hammer smashed an opening for three hoses. The arms ol the men were well scorched. A tremendous quantity of water has been pumped, and caused the Canadian Pioneer to take a heavy list to port, the rail of her main deck bulwark being on a level with the wharf, while the starboard rail was canted high on- the seaward side. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. (Per Press Association < AUCKLAND, this day. By midday the fire in the hunkers was extinguished and the ship is now safe. It is .understood! tho vessel was insured by the owners under their own scheme. The cargo was insured! by various firms with different companies.