EMPTY BUNKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2193, 18 May 1908, Page 4

EMPTY BUNKERS.

THE MIMIRO’S PLIGHT.

KBKOSiISNIH CARGO BROACHED. Tho ‘'.Sydney Morning Herald’’ of April 27 gives the following account of tlie stirring and serious adventures which bold l the well-known new Zealand trader Alimiro during her voyage from -New Vork to -Melhourne: It was intended that the vessel should accomplish the whole trig (12,500 miles) without stopping at any intermediate gort, and the quantity of coal which it was estimated would suffice for the long voyage was stowed in the bunkers before she left the American gort, o(> days ago. When she was approaching tho Australian coast-, however, her supplies of fuel had run so low that Captain Kemp decided to put into Albany to replenish hunkers rather than run any risk of hoing stuck up for want of fuel in midocean. v The steamer -was accordingly headed for Albany, where she duly arrived without misadventure. Calculating that with what already remained in the hunkers an extra 205 tons of coal would suffice to enable the vessel to reach {Melbourne, Captain Kemp, after consultation with his engineers, had that quantity taken on board. The Miriro then resumed her passage on April 10, and would, it was hoped, arrive at 'Melbourne on -Monday fast. AVhen she was but three days out from the Western Australian port her coal supply, however, ran out, owing, it is said,- to the inferior nature of (he fuel got at Albany. To quote one of the engineers: “The coal burnt was practically useless for steaming purposes, ami was carried -up the funnel as if it had been shavings.” With some hundreds of miles still to cover the vessel was left almost, without a “shot in her locker,” and the situation was naturally viewed with considerable concern.

The only expedient that remained to meet the difficulty was to use whatever wooden or other suitable fittings were available -for fuel, amt this.was promptly adopted. A heavy boom, as largo as an ordinary tree, was cut up and cast into the hungry furnaces, together with other materials, but as the fires greedily consumed these almost as soon as they were thrown in it- was evident that some .other means would have to be used to keep up the supply 0 f steam. After consultation with tho engineers Captain Kemp determined to use kerosene, of which tho evssel carried a large consignment as cargo, as ail auxiliary fuel to fittings. This id ea was acted upon, 700 cases, or double that number uf tins of liquid fuel being consumed. The oil was sprayed over the furnaces by means of a contrivance constructed by the engineering staff. When the oil and fittings were being burnt in the furnace, flames roared up the funnel, making it red hot, and causing some of the cabins in that part of tho ship to become uncomfortably if not intolerably warm. All the cases from which tho kerosene was taken served to materially augment the fuel supply, and although tilevessel made slow progress she ultimately reached Portland on Friday morning, after a trip of seven days from Albany. She remained there until the following day-, when, having received a supply of good coal from tlie Railway -Department, she resumed her trip to this port, arriving on (Sunday morning. A striking proof of the severity of the ordeal to which it had been exposed was afforded by the vessel’s funnel, which was blistered and -blackened ■ from top to bottom, it had previously been painted a- fairly bright yellow, but now not a vestige of t-liis color is to be seen. The officers of tlie ship say that they had a very trying and anxious time from the moment -when the coal ran out until the arrival at Portland, the whole staff being almost continually on duty r night and day. The Aiimiro is a vessel of 6225 tons, and belongs t 0 the “Tyser” line, but on her present trip is trading under the auspices of the “United Tyser” organisation.