On Saturday evening at about 8 o'el-ok, smoke was noticed issuing from the No. hatch of the P. & O. Co,'s steamer Bengal which was lying alongside the Associated Wharves, and un the tarpaulin and hatches being removed, it was seen that the cargo in the lower No. 2 hold undern ath the orlop deck on the starboard side was on tire. Fire hose is always ready on board the Besgat and it was soon in use, six streams being quickly brought to bear' on the burning cargo, three of the streams being supplied from the donkey engine and three from Downton hand pumps, the men working with a will and getting a8 near as they could to the times, The heat was intense, so much s that the stringer plates became red hot and buckled, while the lower part of the orlop deck was charred, though otherwise the vessel is uninjured, How the fire occurred is a mystery, as it broke out inthe third lower tier of bales, The cargo in the hold consisted of Mau-chester piece goods in bales and cases, Bombay yarn, lead and old iron, and the place where the fire began was well out of the way of any sparks that could have fallen down the hatchway, The steamer had been alongside the wharf sume time, and the stevedore's men who were discharging the cargo were throughout under the eye of x quartermaster, so that they could not easily have indulged in surreptitious smoking. Thehatches were closed at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, and nobody had to the hold after that hour, so that it was at least two a half after that time that the fire was discovered Upwardsof one hundred bales of piece goods and Bombay yarn have been niore or less damaged, and there were sixteen inches of water in the hol after the fire pumps had stopped work. The police visited the ship late wt night and since then twelve cnolies belonging to the stevedore's gang and a foreman have been arrested by the police, It is hoped to ascertain from them if possible the cause of the fire. The Sarp-don, which was lying astern of the Bengal, offered assistance, but it was declined with thanks, the appliances on board the Bengut being sutticient to cope with the danger.
The Agent of the P. & O. Cv, has cour-teensly furnished us with the following Fire was discovered in the main hold of the s. Bengal at 8 pin. about two hours after the discharg cargo was finished for the day. The fire! hose was immediately brought into play the tire extinguished at 10 p.m. Considerable damage was caused to the cargo in this hold by fire and water. No clue as to the origin of the fire has yet been covered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.