Sea-Fire Drama
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Moresby, July 26
TULY’s sea drama, featuring a fire aboard the MV Manugoro defi ance of the Master’s orders by ab sconding members of the native crew, and a difficult tow to port through heavy seas, seems likely to fizzle out in anticlimax.
The Manugoro with 2 officers, 15 native crew and 34 native passengers, was carrying timber and rubber from Kikori to Moresby when she caught fire. Because of the fire, the engine
could not be stopped, and some fir fighting equipment below dec could not be reached.
Captain James Ritchie praised tl help he got from Engineer Col Long and a loyal native, Ivi. 1 was blown overboard when the shij refrigerator exploded at the heig of the fire, but Ritchie turned t! ship about to rescue him. Th manoeuvre encouraged the flame but Captain Ritchie said, “You cou not leave a man to drown.”
Some of the crew had other ides Ritchie saw several natives attemf ing to lower the ship’s only lifeboj He ordered them to desist. Thi ignored him. Ritchie instruct* Long to stop the boat casting o When Long grasped one of the r taining ropes, a native drew a knii Ritchie went to Long’s aid, and tl native slashed at him, and then c the line which held the lifeboat the blazing ship.
The lifeboat stood off for a whil before rowing for the coast. Tl natives landed near Kerema (abo 145 miles west of Moresby) and r ported to the authorities. The shij burning superstructure fell ove board, and enabled the crew to g at and put out the fire.
A Qantas Catalina, captained 1 Fred Fox, from Moresby, locat the Manugoro, at 6 p.m. on Sati day, July 12, about 18 hours aft the fire started.
Captain Fox saw about 20 peof huddled in the forward part of t vessel. The rear section had be burned to the deck. He return to Moresby and the Civil Aviati trawler CA7O set out to aid t Manugoro.
Meantime, the MV Doma hea special broadcasts from 9PA Mor< by, and found the Manugoro a took her in tow on Sunday mornii to Kairuku. CA7O then undertoi the tow from Kairuku to Merest!
The natives who escaped in t lifeboat were brought to Pt Moresby, and questioned by the H hour Master, Captain Hawley.
It is doubtful if any serious char can be made against them. Th were casual employees engaged coastal waters, and did not sign a ship’s articles. There is doubt a charge of stealing the boat coif be sustained.
Mr. W. Rodgers, representative W. Kopsen Pty., Ltd., well-kno* Sydney suppliers of shipchandle for the Islands, left Sydney by i on August 2, on a business vie to Papua and New Guinea. He w return to Australia in Is September.