STEAMER AFIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 7

STEAMER AFIRE

WORKERS IN DISTRESS v OVERCOME BY FUMES (Elec. Te|. Copyright—Doited Proas Asm. I MELBOURNE, Dee. '£ The steamer Idomeneus, en route from Sydney to London, caught fire. The fire was extinguished-before she reached Melbourne. While the vessel was being unloaded at Melbourne fire broke out afresh in the refrigerators, which were packed with frozen mutton. Before the fire brigade arrived, volunteers attempted to quell the outbreak. Nine stevedores working on the ship and six firemen were overcome bv ammonia fumes and taken to hospital. There were pathetic " scenes when the victims were brought on deck. They were seized by convulsions and rolled about in intense agony. Foreman Jorgensen, went below three times in the stifling fumes, each time bringing up an unconscious man. He returned a fourth time ana was seized by convulsions as a result of the fumes and fell from the ladder into tho hold, where he lay for half an hour ui?rore he was rescued by firemen in smoke helmets. Tho ship's hatches were seated,, and steam turned on from the .ship's boilers in the hope; of quelling the outbreak, the cause of which is unknown. Most of the cargo was removed, from the vessel, the watersiders having agreed to work overtime in order to get the mutton stored in refrigerating, chambers on the wharf. (Received December 6, noon.} MELBOURNE, December 6. As a result of the fire on the steamer Idomeneus, half th# meat shipment affected is held to be lost: >i- -•