The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-06 00:00:00

FIRE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR.

The Overland China Mail of January 21 gives the followinf
account of a fire on board her Majesty's ship Curlew a'
Shanghai, on the 11th ult.
"On the morning of the 11th shortly after ten
o'clock, an alarm of fire was given on board her
Majesty's gun vessel Curlew, Commander Church,
which arrived at Shanghai from Hong Kong (at
which port she had been recommissioned), only on
Saturday last. The fire broke out in the sail-room,
just over the port forward magazine, and was
fortunately discovered before it had obtained
much headway. The crew were immediatly called
to fire quarters, and went to their stations with
customary alacrity and coolness. The proximity of the
seat of the fire to the magazine rendered it necessary
that the first step should be to flood that source of ex-
treme danger. The valves were therefore quickly
opened, the hose rigged, and large quantities of water
poured in among the powder cases. In the meantime
the signal for aid was run aloft, ,and was speedily
answered from the signal station on the Pootung
shore and from the other ships. But a very few minutes
elapsed ere boats and launches were seen pulling hara
for the scene of the fire. They were from the French
gun vessel Volta, the United States corvette Hart-
ford and Kearsage ; her Majesty's corvettes Modeste
and gun vessel Ringdove. The launches each carried
a deck fire-engine, and were quickly alongside the
burning ship and at work. The floating fire-engine
from Kin-lee-yuen was also soon at hand, and the
hose being run on board aided in the work of ex-
tinguishing the fire. Notwithstanding the vast body
of water pe ured into the sailroom of the Curlew, it
was evident that help had not arrived too soon, for
smoke began to ascend through the hatchways in
large quantities, showing that the fire would soon have
obtained a serious hold of the vessel. One lower deck
beam, indeed, was so fully ignited that it was found
necessary to cut it away to prevent the flames spread-
ing ; and it was not until so much water had been
pumped on board and the forehold so far filled that it
reached within a very few inches of the lower deck beams,
bringing the ship greatly down by the head, that all
further source of danger was prevented. About the time
this was achieved, the Tsat/ee steamed to the scene to
render aid, and brought up just astern of the Curlew,
but her services were not required: At about 1.15
p.m. it was announced that the fire was extinguished,
and the engines ceased working. Previous to this the
men had been engaged in getting on deck the sails
caught by the fire, and it was matter of surprise that
comparatively little damage had been done to them.
The closeness with which they were stowed will in a
measure account for this; but sufficient damage was
done, however, to show that had the fire broken
out in the night time the destruction would have
been much greater. Of course uatil the maga-
zine, sail-room, and lower hold are cleared of
the water and debris, it is impossible to ascer-
tain what amount of damage the ship herself has sus-
tained ; but it is believed this \via be found to be no
more than can be repaired without going into dock.
Too much praise cannot be given to the officers and
men of the several ships named, and also those of the
Kin-lee-yuen engines for the readine3s and skill with
which they rendered aid in the emergency. Had the
fire reached the powder, the destruction of life and
property can only be imagined—the Volta and Kear-
sage lying so close to the Curlew that they at least
could not have avoided the effects of the concussion.
The origin of the fire was said to be spontaneous com-
bustion, arising from the heating of damp sails."

INJURED INNOCENTS. Bung (to Bumble,
Vestryman and owner of Unwholesome Dwellings) :
"Talk ov 'massing legislation! It was our turn last
session; now it's your" !" Bu.nble : A regular Crosq,
I call it. Might just as well 'ave the Vother lot back
again.—Punch.
AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The fol-
lowing were the average prices of British corn, per
imperial quarter, as received from the inspectors and
officers ot Excise, for the week ending Feb. 27 :
Wheat, 40s. lid.; barley, 425. lid.; oats, 295. 7d.
Corresponding week last year :—Wheat 625. id.;
barley, 495, 3d.; oats, 295, 4d.