FIRE ON 8.8, TARAWERA.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11762, 19 October 1906, Page 2

FIRE ON 8.8, TARAWERA.

(Per United Pre 33 Association. ) Auckland, October 18. A rathor serious outberak of fire on the steamer Tarawera occurred on the voyage from Uisborne. Mr Bligh,a passenger by the Tarawera, states that he was awakened shortly before midnight by the steward coming to his cabin and telling him to dress, as there had been an outbreak of fire. He occupied a deck cabin, and as he stepped out he gaw a dense smoke rising from the hatohes of the saloon companion and from apparently every opening from below. The other passengers were coming on deck. Some of the crew were engaged swinging boats out, ready for lowering. Others were combatting the fire, the seat of which appeared to be under the saloon am id ship?. The hatch had been lifted, and hoses were pointed below, while, in spite of the dense smoke, men descended. What struck him forcibly was the entire absence of anything approaching panic or extreme nervousness on the part of the pasßengersj though there were a lair proportion of women and children on board. Tde situation to a landsman's eye appeared to be grave. The ship had been stopped to avoid an increase of draught, and even the officers regarded the position as very serious indeed, but the fire was eventually suppressed. | It is understood that the cargo was considerably damaged.f In connection with the outbreak of fire on the steamer Tarawera, ~the officers state that about 200 tons of cargo was affected, all in the after hatch. The fire was extinguished by a hand grenade and hose, pumping five feßt of water into the hold. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The hull is undamaged, and the deck is only slightly damaged.