PRAISE OF CAPTAIN AND CREW

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20532, 25 September 1936, Page 9

PRAISE OF CAPTAIN AND CREW

FIRE ON BIG LINER EXTINGUISHED SPLENDID WORK OF FIRE FIGHTERS United Press Association—By RlectrU Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 24, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 24. Radio messages received in Sydney state that the fire on the mail liner Ormonde was extinguished after 28 hours’ fight. The liner left Twofold Bay at 3.25 this afternoon and is due at Sydney at 5 o’clock to-morrow morning. Some officers and members of the crew, also several passengers in the lounge, were affected by the smoke this morning. Captain G. Thorne mingled with the passengers and assured them that there was no cause for alarm, despite the density of the sn.oke. It is reported that the captain upheld the highest traditions of the British mercantile marine and the crew were with him to a man. Splendid work was done by a detachment of Sydney firemen, who arrived at 8 o'clock this morning. They immediately went abroad, with special fire fighting equipment. These men are returning with the ship. VESSEL SERIOUSLY DAMAGED INTERNATIONAL STEAMERS DELAYED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 24, 11.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 24. The sailing of the Maunganui for Wellington has been postponed from 5 o’clock this afternoon, until 9 am. tomorrow to permit the vessel to pick up 35 New Zealanders from the Ormonde. The Awatea will pick up 40 more of the Ormonde’s passengers later in the day, for Auckland. Reports reaching Sydney to-night state that the Ormonde has been extensively damaged, and she will be unable to complete the voyage to Brisbane. Instead she will go direct to dock. The fire was confined to No. 4 hold, but a number of plates were buckled. The crew’s quarters were damaged by Itnense heat. Firemen and members of the crew, wearing smoke masks, worked feverishly for many hours In Jettisoning smouldering coir fibre.