FIRE ON ORIENT LINER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20531, 24 September 1936, Page 9

FIRE ON ORIENT LINER

EARLIER REPORTS NOT CONFIRMED BIG VESSEL SHELTERS AT TWCFOLD BAY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 23, 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 23. A radio message received in Sydney to-day stated that a fire occurred this afternoon in No. 4 hatch of the liner Ormonde en route to Sydney. The steamer Murada was signalled to stand by to afford assistance if required. The Murada reached the Ormonde in a few hours and was informed that the fire was completely under control. FIRE NOT EXTINGUISHED VESSEL SHELTERS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 24, 12.14 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 23. Tire fire on the Ormonde is still smouldering. The liner put in at Twofold Bay, owing to rough conditions on the coast, and in the interests of the 320 passengers, who thus could be more readily landed in the event of an emergency. The Orient Company’s branch agents in Sydney to-night despatched four expert members of the fire brigade, by fast car to Twofold Bay, where they are expected to arrive at 7 o’clock in the morning. They are equipped with gas masks and oxygen apparatus. The fire occurred in a cargo of coir fibre, ’Which is difficult to subdue. If all danger has passed before the firemen arrive, the liner will resume the journey to Sydney at full speed. The vessel, however, will arrive many hours late to-morrow.