"Macdhui" on Fire

off N.G. Coast "Neptuna" Races to Aid of Drifting Vessel

WHEN the Burns, Philp passenger motorship Macdhui was off Fortifica tion Point en route from Lae to Madang, New Guinea, on June 20, two fires broke out abroad, leaving the vessel drifting with her engines disabled.

In response to S.O.S. calls, the B.P. liner Neptuna raced to the rescue, and reached the Macdhui the following day to tow her to port.

When the first fire occurred in the MacdhuVs engine-room, she was consid ered to be in danger, and the passengers took to the boats. Later, the European passengers returned to the ship, but 150 native deck passengers were put ashore near Fortification Point, as a panic was feared.

The first outbreak occurred in the fuel oil bunkers at 1 a.m. and assumed serious proportions. The crew fought the fire with great determination, and by 4 a.m. it was under control. The damage was extensive.

At 5.30 a.m., a second fire broke out in No, 4 hold, and the crew was again called out to fight the outbreak, which, however, was not so serious as the first fire.

Captain Campbell, master of the Macdhui, reported early on June 21 that the vessel was in no danger, as the weather was calm and the set of currents tended to carry her in a north-westerly direction, away from land. A later mes sage stated that the bulkhead and hatch had cooled appreciably.