Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-06-10


port of the burning of the Fannie
Kerr and the arrival of Captain Glib
bon's boat at Makaweli, all who had
ever heard of a fire in a cargo Of coal
supposed that the fire in the hold of
the Fannie Kerr must have been burn
ing for many days and must have been
discovered long time before the ves-
sci was abandoned.
This was not the case.
The story as II now comes from the
lips Of those who experienced the
things they tell about, is far different
than people on the waterfront expect
ed.
The fire in the hold OF the vessel
was not discovered until about thirty
six hours before the crew were COM
PEELED to leave the ship.
Benjamin Pearson, one OF the two APP
prentiCes. was the first to notice some
thing wrong. Second Mate Thomas
Miles sent him aft about o'clock in
the morning of the 2Sth Of May to
read the patent log. When Pearson
reported to the officer he had more
than the record OF the log to tell him.
There's a funny smell aft" said
Pearson.
What's it like" asked the second
officer.
Smells like gas, SIR" answered the
boy.
The second officer lost no time in
vestigating and ascertained for him
self that there was a very strong smell
of gas. The odor could not be noticed
forward for the wind carried the
fumes aft.
The gas was coming from one Of the
after matches which had been opened
for ventilation. The second officer
aroused the captain and all hands
were summoned on deck to close the
matches and stop the ventilators. II
there was a fire below the captain de-
termined to smother 1t II possible.
Double tarpaulins were put over the
matches and the ventilators were stop
ped with oakum and canvas.
During the 2Sth Of May no more
fumes were noticed, but when some
drinking water was drawn from one
Of the tanks amidships about noon II
was found to be hot. The fire seemed
to be amidships.
The lifeboats were at once made ready
for an emergency, although the cap
tain hoped to the last to be able &c
overcome the fire, or else control II un.
til he could take the ship into San
Francisco or some other port. Later
In the day. the 2Sth, the water In the
tank which had heretofore been hot
was almost boiling.
Between and o'clock in the morn
ing OF May Goth, Thursday, while one
watch was below sleeping and the
other watch was forward, standing by
a terrific explosion suddenly rent the
air and the two after matches were
thrown fifty or sixty feet up. falling
overheard in their descent. The goot
ship trembled from stem to stern ant
rocked with the force OF the explosion
When the matches were shot into tht
air, great columns OF flames burst from
the holu Oh the Vessel. linen the
fiames died down as suddenly as the!
had arisen and great, dense, black
clouds OF smoke rolled skyward from
the after matches.
For over twelve hours the crew
fought the fire. Coverings were put
over the matches and another at,
tempt made to smother the fire. This
had little effect, however, for the gas
was bound to escape and the coverings
on the matches could not be kept on.
Fortunately, none Of the crew were
art at the time OF the explosion. The
steering gear was placed amidships In
the Fannie Kerr and the steersman
was stationed as he would be aboard
steamship.
Al O'Clock In the afternoon OF
thursday, May ~ the crew were forced