TERRIBLE ORDEAL ON SHIP

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1929, Page 9

TERRIBLE ORDEAL ON SHIP

COAL CARGO ABLAZE AT SEA CREW’S TWELVE DAY’S FIGHT VESSEL REACHES HARBOUR By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, Nov. 21. The unenviable experience of the crew € of the steamer Telemachus during a twelve days’ battle against fire in her coal cargo in the Indian Ocean was told upon the arrival of the vessel yesterday. The crew numbered-61, of whom 39 were Chinese. When the fire was discovered volunteers went down the holds. They were repeatedly driven back by the fumes and smoke and were hauled" on deck by lifelines, but by repeated visits to the seat of the fire they were able to. dig trenches among the coal. Once there was a terrific explosion which shook the ship and lifted the hatch off the forward hold. Boats were swung out in readiness for an emergency. The big ship. during the whole time was foxing in the angry seas. The radio aerial was carried away and fires in two holds burned for twelve days.Finally great volumes of water were directed into the holds by means of outsize hoses made from pieces of canvas sewn together. The ship looks little the worse for her experience.