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FIRE ON BOARD THE SHIP
TALAVERA.
CONSIDERABLE DBAIA(AE.
Some Newcastle Cargo.
[BH TSLERADII.J]
(Pot ouz erpOIAL CoREaSPoNDEeT.))
SYDNEY, Wednesday.
Anowe half-past 10 o'clock this morning a
fire broke out on board the splendid four
masted ship Talavora, lying at M'llwraith's
wharf, Darling Harbour. The vessel, of
which Messrs. Virgoe, Son, and Chapman
are the Sydney agents, had been in port for
about a week, and nearly all her cargo for
Sydney had been discharged, but there re
mained on board a quantity of merchandise
with which it was intended the Talavera
should proceed to Newcastlo to discharge
there. When interviewed this morn
ing, Captain Robson, who is in com
mand of the ship, said the fire was first
noticed at 1.30 a.m., and he added, " From
what I can gather it appears that an old
quarter-master of ininoe happened by accident
to come on deck. He noticed the smell of
fire and called the watchman, who was aft at
the time. The two codsulted together, and
then decided to call me. I hurried on deck,
and gave orders that all the men should be
called and take up their fire stations. This
was done, and the alarm telephoned to the
fire brigade station. Before they arrived,
however, I had my men at work.
We fixed our hose, started the pumps,
and, having torn off thie hatch, poured
water down below as fast as over we could.
The smoke was terrible dense, and we were
at times almost overpowered. One of the men
while looking down below to see where the
flames were was so overcome that he fell
right down. Fortunately he was not stunned
and wasablo to make his way on deck again.
If he had not beeoon able to help himself, we
would hardly have been able to do so.
He was rather badly injured, and I
had him sent off to the hospital.
At 1.33 am. the M.F.B arrived with
three steamers, a reel and the sal
vage corps. Superintendent Bear was in
command, assisted by Mr. Wobb. With the.
additional help everything began to go
better, but for hours it looked serious
enough, I can tell you, although I never at
any time thought it would be necessary to
scuttle the ship to save her. The fire broke
out in the starboard side of the forehold
among, as far as I can see, a quantity of
chinaware, glassware, cement, and such
goods. This is rather strange and puzzling,
for yesterday we were not working that hold,
but at the main hatch, and, more than all,
while the fire broke out in thie very bottom
of the ship, the matches were stowed
away in the 'tween decks. Of course
all the hatches were on and sealed, so that
it would have been impossible for anyone to
have dropped a match down below. How it
originated is indeed a mystery. We all
worked away, and it was like working in the
dark, for as time went on the smoke got
denser and denser, until it became almost
blinding. When it seemed that the flamnes
were pretty well under, and all that one had
to fear was from the smoke, the matches ex
ploded with a terrific roar. Many of the
men were frightened beyond measure. It
was very late when we got. the fire
under, and when we did thoroe wero
over. 6fit of water in the hold.
My men all worked well; but I saw two of
them trying to make over the gaugway with
their chests, and quietly but forcibly brought
them to their bearings In all, I had 25 of
my own crew on board. The officers especi
ally worked well, and did their auty nobly.
The ship is 1730 tone register, and was built
nine years ago for Messrs. J. Huardie and Co.,
her present owners. I have been in her
since the day she was launched, and you can
see for yourself in what good order she is.
Originally she coat about £22,000, and I
would take her present value tobe £20,000
Of what value the cargo is I do not know.
We have' nothing to do with that. Of
course it is all covered by insurance,
and the ship herself is likewise well
insured. All the cement in both holds has
been irretrievably ruiined, and much other
cargo has also bean destroyed. I was afraid
someswhrt about there being a run on the
spirits, and consequently put on a couple of
men to guard them. And you might tell
one thing which this fire lhas taught me, and
that is the inadequate means for extinguish
ing fires on board ships, whether lying at
anchor or alongside the pier.' For instance,
at the pier where my ship is there is not a
drop of water, and that used by the firs
brigade had to be brought right down from
the street, a couple of' hundred yards or
more. And then again I wonder why there
is no such thing as a floating fire engine, the
same as they have in Calcutta. This, to
my mind, is a most lamentable status of
things."
The ship presents a heartrending appear
ance. The pumps are still going, pumping
the thousands of gallons of water out of the
hold. Members of the crow are down below
pouring buckets of water on burning cases,
and the hold is blaookened and charred, and
floating about are all kinds of goods. Carts
have boon all day taking what cargo there is
on the wharf away. The loss cannot be
eastimated with any degree of reliability, but
it is certain that the necessary repairs to the
ship will cost £4000 or £5-00. Same of
those on the wharf put down thie damage to
the cargo at between £2000 and £3000.
There are about five fathoms of wptor
where the Talavera is now lying. She is a
four masted iron ship belonging to the
Olutha Shipping Company. Sihe was built
at Dumbarton in 1832 by Stonhouse, and is a
aplendidly finished vessel. Her dimensions
are-266ift long, 4018t beam, and 23fs 6in
depth of hold. There is a space of some i60ft
between the fore ahd main holds, throughout
the whole of which the fire raged furiously.
Tihe appreximate value of the ship and cargo
is estimated at £35,000.
Tho cargo for Newcastble consisted of about
700 tons of goeieral merchandiseo, including
malt liqueur and spirits, several .hiundred
casks of cement, and a large consignment of
wax voestas. Thire cargo is consigned to
various firms in the Northeradisriot, a large
portion 'of it being directed to MoPasra. D.
Cohen 'and Co., Newcastle; Meassrs. . L
Oapper and Co., Maitland; and Mr. Robson,
Newcastle. Messre. Earp, Glillam and Co.
are the'Neweastle agents of the ship, and it
will be for them to arrange with the con
signees as' to whether the cargo eaved from
the fire will be tranehippred to Newcastle, oi
whether it will bo stored in Sydney. It is
not problble the Talaveorr will now proceed
to Newcastle as was intended, but Captain
RIobson will decide within thie next few
days.
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