THE lONIC FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2197, 22 May 1908, Page 3

THE lONIC FIRE.

A FIERCE OUTBREAK.

■BRIGADES FIGHTING HARD

(Press Association.) s WELLINGTON, May 21. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company’s line steamer lonic, which was duo to depart for oLndon to-mor-roiv, lies alongside the Glasgow wharf with an outbreak of lire in No. 1 hold. The lire was first discovered about 11.30 a.m.. ou Wednesday, while the finishing touches were being put oil the work of stowing away the remaining cargo. "It is the Turakina ease over again,” said a •well-known officer, with this difference, that wo have caught it in time, and our chalices of getting the upper hand before any very serious damage is done are still hopeful.” As soon as. the lire was reported the luitellies were promptly , battened down, ami Captain Carter gave orders to have steam directed into the hold. The Wellington Harbor Board’s stall’ arrived with its appliances almost immediately, and soon two ehemieil services were directed into the hold, know to be filled chiefly with llax. The chemical gases used to extinguish the tiro were generated by the mixture of sulphuric acid and carbonate of soda. While these remedies were being actively employed, the Fire Brigade’s men (under acting-.Ruperinteiulent O’Brien) -and the Fire Police also arrived with their gear, ami continued to render valuable assistance. Water was continually poured on tho fore deck of the vessel, and every precatuion taken to keep down the temperature as far as possible. The thermometer was frequently used to test the temperature in the lower holds, and after a number of tests .the captain was satisfied that the fire was in the upper deck only. Tho cargo in No. 1 hold consists almost entirely of wool, which is also stored in the ’tween decks, and the cargo in the upper deck, where the five has broken out, consists mostly of llax, with a small quantity of general cargo. It is believed that the greater quantity of the 11 ix in tho hold hud been shipped from the Manawatu and T’oxton mills. All the afteroon measures to put the fire out were continued. The Union Company’s tug Ternwhiti drew alongside the big steamer, and preparations were made to connect up, but it was not anticipated then that either the marine or land extinguisher would he icquired. Captiin liendal and other experts were then confident that the fire’s career was nearing its end, and an officer who had been below for some time reported that things were cooling down inside. “We started on it,” he said, “before it had got a chance to get going.” This, evening the hatches remained sealed, and the Harbor Bond’s two chemical engines injected eliemiwil mixture into the hold, and the lonic’s own appliances were used to pump steam ami inject chemicals into the scat of the fire, the temperature being reduced hourly. The company’s officers state they do not intend to take any risks, and the hatches will not be removed till they feel convinced that all chance of the fire spreading has passed. The sides of the steamer arc hot to the touch, but 1 lie marked decrease in temperature hour by. hour leads to the hope and belief that the fire will soon be extinguished. The steamer’s departure for London is postponed until Friday- for the present. . At 8 o’clock this morning the hatches on the s.s. luuic’s forehold were taken off. The fire was found to be burning fiercely, and the plates id the vessel were hot. Chemical engines are hard at work, but apparently are not making mum headway. It 'is possible that the hold will have to he-flooded with the aid of the tug Ternwhiti. The construction of the hold is different lo that of the s.s. Turakina, inasmuch as it is possible lo flood that [part of the vessel without injury to .'tlio other part of the cargo. AN ENGINEER OVERCOME. { THE HOLD FLOODED. (Special to “Times”.) WELLINGTON, May 21. 7 All hopes (hat the 'chemical apparatus would extinguish the lire oil the •ionic had to he abandoned when the ■hatches were taken ofh this morning. The men worked hard all night, and the third engineer, who had gone down into the hold, suffered so much from the fumes that a quarter of an •hour after lie came on deck he suddenly collapsed. He was,, however, better to-day. ' For a time after the hatch was opened, steam rose in clouds, and there was no sign of fire. An hour later, however, smoke began to mingle with tlie steam, and a laborer standing at tho hatchway declared that he saw' flames. Tho dense fumes, however, prevented a closer examination. One hatch was quickly covered up again, and tlie captain went over the side of the vessel on a rope ladder to see> if the plates were hot. One touch was enough to satisfy him on tin’s point, and it was then decided to flood the hold. The Union Company’s tug Ternwhiti and the Harbor Board’s “steamer” quickly got to work, and water was poured into the hol’d at the rate of several thousand gallons per minute. Meantime, in the next batch, men were calmly stowing cargo, consisting of butter and cheese, and the passengers were - getting ready to go on hoard the vessel. As the water gained in tlie bold, the- fore part of tlie vessel settled dowii to the floor of the harbor. Early in the afternoon the fire was subdued, and later on a start was made to discharge the cargo. The Terawhiti will now be busy' for some time pumping out the water that is in the hold,, but tin’s will take much longer than it did to pump it in. It is providential that tlie fire broke out when it did, and not after the-vessel had been well mit in tlie open sea. A MARINE ENQUIRY. STEAMER LEAVES ON SUNDAY. Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 21. The Marine Department has ordered an inquiry into tlio cause of the fire. Dr. McArthur, S.M., will preside, and Mr. AY. G. Foster and Captain Bl.ickburne will be associated with him. It will be remembered that these gentlemen comprised the AVool Fires Commission. They were among the most interested of the spectators who were allowed to view the fire from the decks of the .steamer this morning. At a late hour to-night tlio water with which the lonic’s No. 1 hold was flooded had been pumped out to tlio extent of eight or nine feet, and some cargo discharged from that and N r o. 2 hold for examination. The Company hopes to despatch tlie steamer for London on Sunday.