Motor launch fire, Sydney 1914

The motor launch Lady Linda (a vessel that undertook pleasure cruises) belonging to the Balmain Ferry Co., Sydney, caught fire shortly before 7 o'clock on the evening of Thursday October 5th due to the engine back-firing. The launch was at the Yeend Street wharf, Balmain, and the passengers were disembarking when the driver, Mr W. Ardis, attempted to start the engine and it backfired, the oil from same setting fire to Mr Ardis's clothes. The remaining passengers scurried ashore and the driver rushed on deck with his clothes ablaze, and jumped overboard.

He was speedily rescued, and vain attempts were made to extinguish the fire, but to no avail. Then one of the passengers, who was attempting to assist in fighting the fire which was blazing fiercely, accidently dropped the only bucket over overboard. Despite his injuries, the driver bravely attacked the blaze with a wet bag, but all looked lost until about forty "coolies" from the steamer Janus, which was berthed close by at Morts Dock, arrived on the scene armed with buckets. Under the direction of the Officers of the Janus, these native Indian seamen soon succeeded in extinguished the blaze.

The driver was badly burned about the face, hands, and arms, and was hurried on board the Janus; where he was attended to by the steamer's doctor. The damage to the launch was confined to the engine-room, the lining of which was badly burnt. The vessel was back at work a few days later.