On Thursday night of last week fire broke out in the hold of the s' Sado Maru, lying at the N.Y.K. Wayside Wharf. When a section of the Hongkew Division of the Fire Brigade arrived, summoned by the Wayside Police Station, they found the ship's crew had put steam on and battened down the hold. The cargo consisted of press-packed cotton, jute, rapeseed, rice, etc., and the hold was stated to be full up, so water was used very sparingly, owing to the danger from expansion of the compressed jute, etc. It was afterwards found, on opening up, that the hold was barely half full.
The Hongkew men got to work und the float was sent for by the Chief Officer. The Customs float also arrived and assisted. The fire was practically subdued at 3.15 a.m. The cargo in the lower hold was damaged by water, smoke and fire and between decks slight damage was done by water.
One of the River Police, named Haley, fel) between the ship and the wharf, but fortunately was got up again only slightly shaken. Sub-Officer Newington, working at the top of the hold on the main deck, was overcome by smoke and collapsed. He was treated by the ship's doctor and later sent to the Victoria Nursing Home. It is thought that perhaps he may have been affected by carbon monoxide.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.