The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-01-11
FlREnEN0VERC0NE'
BY fumes
OF BURNING
Four MenfWho Fan Unconscious
Are Rescued and Hurried
TO Hospitals
CAPTAIN vIEBkA 1N
sERl0U CONDITION
Despite Precautions Flames n
Cargo Break Out Anew
When Matches Are Opened

~
in the cotton cargo Of No. 2rhatch Of
the freighter shinyo Mtfu early yes
terday afternoon, Assistant Fire Chief
w W. Blaisdell, Capt. W. A. viera
and Firemeh Gabriel Costa and J,
Mendoza were overcome by the deadly
fumes and removed to the Queen .
and emergency hospitals unconscious.
In attempting to rescue vierra Fireman
George Wright sustained an ugly gash
on the forehead and had Il not been
that he was held secure by life line,
II Is probable he would have fallen
through the open matches 10 the bottom
Of the hold where the fumes were the
strongest. Other than being troubled
with sbad headaehes all but Vierfa
have fully recovered. Vierra had not
regained complete Consciousness last
night. However, DR.. A. r. Aver, the at
tending physician, said that the patti!
ent WINS doing as well as could be exs
pected. ~ ~
Precautions Taksn
The Shinyo WINS moved from her
berth at Pier 4 to the new Inter-Is-
land coal conveyor early yesterday
morning. IT was feared that the fire
was still smouldefing and every pre-.
caution was taken by the hafbor au.
thorities to guard against the spread
of the flames, A ERE engine from the
central station had been placed on q
barge and. towed alongside the Shinyo
at her berth In the Eva end of the
hnrbor and the Matson tug Intrepid
was prepared to pump water at a mo;
, ment's notice.
As soon as Il had been ascertained
that the fire had not been fully extin.
guished, two holes were bored through
the bulkhead which separates the No.
and No. 2 holds and through these
two large-sized streams were played.
the hatch covering. It was generally
believed by those in charge Of opera!
noon to open the hatch, the water
would have risen TO sufficient height
nearly to flood the hold. 81
Upon his return to the vessel at one
O'Clock, shortly after the hatch cover.
ing had been removed, Assistant Chief
Blaisdell jumped down and stood ON q
/. heavy piece OF maehihery which waa
several fest below the hatch top. H
was followed by Vierfa The hold ap.
peared clear and bnt little smoke wal
+ visible Blhisdell felt It would be safer
to be provided with q rope 90 shout;
cd 10 those above TO send one down
firemen, Overcome as- #
He had no sooner turned around
than Vierra dropped from the rnachih
cry on which he was standing to the
floor of the hold, distance of about
ten feet. The rope was lowered as or
dered and as Blaisdell reached for It
he too dropped, but was more FORUM
ate than Vierra, in that he fen only Il
the floor Of the tween decks. His fall
was observed by those gathered around
the hatch opening and Costa and Fab
Ian Started down for him. ..,.., ..
With the help Of n number Of Others
Blaisdell's limp form was raised to tht
deck, but before Costa could get on,
himself, he dropped as had the others
Mendoza then offered q hand and b,
too was overcome by the fumes, which
appeared to be increasing In volum,
the longer the burning mass Of cotton
caustic soda and leather was exposed
to the air. Deadly gases generate from
q mixture of salt water and causti,
soda and II is believed that this wa
mainly accountable for, the trouble.
Signals Mixed s''."' - -.
It required but few seconds 70
Fabian and McQdire TO False Cost,
to the. air. The matches were ordefet
covered when Wright informed thos,
in charge that VieTra was still in tn,
hold, About ten minutes had elapset
since he first disappeared but in tn
hurry to rescue the others who wer,
nearer the surface, Vierra had beel
overlooked. Wright volunteered TO Il
down for him, 90 two lines were al
tached to his body and he was lower
ed into the hold. ~
His instructions were to place on
line on Vierra and when this was don
TO jerk his own line sharply twice
The signals became mixed and a
Wright was untying the line to be use,
for Vierra, those above thought IL tn
' signal to "haul inn. .a.s.l-.
He was pulled out with such spec,
that his head struck on the hatehsids
inflicting deep cash. Fabian the
volunteered his services and he, wa
sent down in, the same fashion
Wright. He succeeded in getting tn
rope on Vierra and both were raise,
to the deck, Vierra was believed h
be dead but no time, was lost In rush
ing the men to the hospitals.
Thurston Takes Charge f.s,
Fire Chief G. w. Thurston, who wa
at home with badly scalded leg, wa
notified Of the unfortanate turn Of al
fairs. He Immediately left his be,
and took charge OF FIRE operation
aboard the vessel throughout the re
maindsr of the afternoon. Captain
Madsen and A. M. Simpson Of the loca
survey board remained aboard the YES
sci all day, as did HaFbormaster w \
Foster. NJ 80. T.N 81 w M i "a
I Immediately following the rssene 4
all the firemon, water was Again tufne
into the hold. There were twent
feet Of water, in the hold at five o'cloc
yesterday afternoon. This will
pumped out and the work Of diseharl
ing the cargo will probably start som
time tomorrow, This, IL was said ye,
terday, will require at least a weel
Further difficulty In driving ont til
deadly gases may be experienced, Tn
fire engine and the tug Intrepid .,
manned near the shinyo throughout lai
night. NZ.....a.., )