DESTRUDTION OF THE DEFENDER

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11611, 10 August 1918, Page 6

DESTRUDTION OF THE DEFENDER

MORE EVIDENCE TAKEN. Per Press Association Wellington, August 9. Enquiry into 'the destruction by fire of the steamer Defender was -resumed. James Me Very, fireman on the vessel, said be had been inatructed°by the captain to;,fill some rivet holes in the bulkhead, but could 'find only three. He . bolted up two of the biggest, but not getting a bolt to put in the other plugged it with wood. Did not have a lamp. Afterwards he went to work with the engineeer right astern. They had to use a lamp. When taking out the ashes lie noticed that they were cold and wst. Captain Dawson, Harbour Master, recalled, said that was told the Defender had been towed alongside the oilsbip and that the fires were out. He natnrsllyj thought that meant all the fires. While on his way to the Defender he was told the'vessei was afire. Frank Peterson, engineer, recalled, said when he left "the engineroom about 10 a light was still there. Did not anticipate any danger from tiie use of light. Albert Auchre, master stevedore, expressed the opnion that on the day of the fire the draft on the vessel would be from aft io forcascle. There were two distinct explosions. It was inevitable that there would some leaky cases in a cargo of petrol. The enquiry has now closed.