FIRE IN SHIP CHECKED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 5

FIRE IN SHIP CHECKED

FIGHT OF 28 HOURS

USE OF SMOKE MASKS

ORMONDE LEAVES BAY

(Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY. Sept. 24.

Radio messages received at Sydney today stated that, the fire on. the mail liner Ormonde, was extinguished after a fight of 28 hours. The liner left, Twofold Bay at. 3.25 I his afternoon and is due at Sydney to-mor-row morning.

Some of the officers and members ot the crew, also several passengers in the lounge, were affected by smoke. During the morning Captain C!. Thorne mingled with the passengers and assured them there was no cause for alarm, despite the density of the smoke. It is .reported that the captain upheld the highest traditions of the British mercantile marine and the erew were with him to a man.

Splendid work was done by the detachment of Sydney firemen who arrived at 8 o’clock this morning and immediately went aboard with special fire-fighting equipment. These men are returning with the ship.

Reports reaching Sydney to-night slate that the Ormonde is extensively damaged and will be unable to complete the voyage to Brisbane. Instead she. will go direct to the dock.

The fire was confined to No. 4 hold, but a. number of plates buckled. The crew's quarters were damaged by the intense heat.

Firemen and crew wearing smoke masks worked feverishly for many hours jettisoning smouldering fibre. The sailing of the Maunganui for Wellington was postponed from 5 o’clock this afternoon until 9 n.m. to-morrow to permit the Maunganui to pick up 35 New Zealanders from the Ormonde.

The Awatea will pick up 40 more. The. Ormonde’s passengers leave later in the day for Auckland.