The Fire on the Manapouri.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11743, 20 September 1902, Page 5

The Fire on the Manapouri.

THE OUTBREAK EXTINGUISHED

Press Association—Telegraph—Copyri ght. Received September 19. 9.7 a.m. SYDNEY.. September 19. The Manapouri fire is out. The fire brigades were reinforced, and monster engines and lines of hose from the German and other steamers were utilised. An immense quantity of water was poured into the Manapoxiri.

The vessel gradually righted, and as the hold filled the fire, which was chiefly confined to the starboard side of the main hold, was quenched.

-til danger was over by 2 o'clock

The steamer how lies on an almost even keel, with twenty feet of water in the main hold and two feet in the main saloon.

It is estimated that 200 tons of copra were destroyed, while the planking between the decks and 30 or 40 feet of decking from the main hatch are badly damaged.

The outbreak was very difficult to fight, owing to the great heat and the dense, pungenfc smoke from the copra. The fire was first attacked from the en-gine-room, but the firemen were driven back. / ' .■ Several attempts to get below proved futile. ■•■■-.* A fireman slipped on the deck and seriously injured his back. It is impossible to ascertain the damage to the vessel until a survey is made. Received September 20, 0.25 a.m. SYDNEY, September 19. Two powerful pumps were at work all day and cleared the Manapouri of water. A hurried survey showed that between 5000 and 6000 bags of copra had been damaged by fire and water.

The damage to. the ship is believed to be somewhat-extensive. So far as-is known it is confined to the main .hold. Her-cargo is being discharged, and as soon as this is completed an exhaustive survey will be made. ;