The which broke out on! Novembe: the after hold of the str. Silver Walnut about "10.30 @elock, caused the Shanghai Fire Brigade about as much concern any in recent months, In spite of other handicaps, the firemen had th> advantage of able to. take water direct from the river and pour huge quantities on the cargo of cotton which, before blazing up, must have shouldered for some time. The cargo was consigned to Messrs. Anderson, Clayton & Ca.
When the alarm was sounded all units at Hongkew turned out and were on the scene within three minutes, as were officers from Wayside police station. Capt. J. Gordon Dyson, Chief Officer, direct~ ed the operations.
Owing to the nature of the combustibles, the job was more difficult than it appeared. Large columns of smoke poured from the hatch and the firemen could not get at the base Vhile some of the men donned their masks, others attached lines to hydrant on Broadway, still others to a hydrant on the wharf premises, and a third party dropped, a G-inck me into the Whangpoo. 'The first Jines were run over a distance approximating 300 yards. With a. pressure approaching "100 Ib., the, powerful Leyland and uw smaller machine were. soon" pusiping' 1,000 Gallons of water per minute through fouans of lines into the smoking and Steaming cotton.
Both the Municipal Fire Float tant the Customs. Float' responded fo. the emergency und. their com: bined' strength more. han 33000. gallons "per minute. directed against the fie. flames, it was in
apply an acetyl btoel deck. and. burn-out section, These arrangements in hand and Mr Hi. tion Oitieer, and a group of ferent Having donned thei: gas mas dnggged the heavy hoxe down hatch inde to the hatton. Stumbling over smouldering and burning cotton, and unable to see more than six inches before "their tyes, they laid on vigorously. From "tween decks, and from above their supporters assisted in the battle.
The scene was spectacular, and although no flames were seen emerging from the hold, the gaseous forces, engendered under pressure, broke open bales of cotton, and the surrounding district was filled with pulls and particles of fluff. "At one Hime' it seemed that a snow storm was rivalling n volcanic eruption. The cotton intermingled with the black smoke which poured from the thatch and was scattered over area encompassed by a circumferfence of more than half a mile.
"Capt. Dyson directed the fight, while his subordinates pumped air. rom bellows to the helmet wearers} Wilow. A speaking tube connected the "chit officer "te the officer handling. the lines below. This tube was at least 50 ft. in length, As the firemen cane up to be re Ueved, owing to the heat and the -conditions under which they laboured, others replaced them and the barrage of water continued without amerce from the hold, with beads age. Wet and bedraggled they
of perspiration oozing' from every ore of their bodies. Coffee from the ship's galley and other refreshments were handed them, and ina few minutes they again were wait-their turn to go below.
chen the fire frst started, clouds Gf smoke blew from the hatches. Taroe hours dater, with the fire under comparative control, the smoke from the hatches had abated, int owing to the position of the fire and the water which was being Toured on, brownish smoke vapours continued coming from the ventilators, while gases and steam lindod the firemen. below.
All through the afternoon firemen chad their jets at, the spot and so much water was "lrownea" on the flames, that, the ship's bow rose, while the after portion sank quite noticeably. It was not until lat fast night that the Brigade felt The burning cotton was well unaer control "by mid-afternoon, Te yas noticed then that the hold had originally been constructed for, re: and. izinel eeetions "of cook in igeration purposes and that
sulation "hed caught fire, although Protected by a heavy layer of tin.
Brigade had to chop much of mic trict Officer Watkins with a crew of men continued pouring in water.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.