EXPLOSION ON SHIP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 133, 18 March 1931, Page 5

EXPLOSION ON SHIP

TWENTY-FIVE LIVES LOST. 119 OF CREW REACH ISLAND. INJURED' MAN STILL OX ICE. (United Press Association— Copyright). (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) St JOHN (Newfoundland), March 1/. Captain Abram Kean and 117 men of the sealing ship Viking, which exploded and sank off Horse Island on Sunday night, with the loss of some 2o lives, reached the island. _ . Among the missing are Vanck brissell, the film producer, of Newlork, and his companions, A. E. Pernod Russel, and Harry Sargent (the explorer), Captain W. Kennedy (navigator), J. Murphy (chief engineer) 1. lainell (second engineer), H. Hannitord (third engineer), Dr. W. J. Roach, the ship's physician, C. King, wireless operator, and S. Ulett (steward). 'The mate, Alfred Kean, is still on the ice with a broken leg. . The missing dory, containing seven men, five appearing badly hurt, was seen at daylight on Tuesday, five mile* off, labouring to reach Horse Island. Their success is doubtful. There are only five houses on the island, and no supplies are available until the arrival of a rescue ship. Captain Kean, who is in a weak condition, was on the bridge at the time of the explosion. He stated that lie was hurled 12 feet on to the ice and injured. Most of the men were in their berths when a terrific explosion of unexplained cause occurred Man> were thrown from their berths and others to the deck, and the ship was darkened. The men forward apparently escaped the explosion, which appeared to tear the after part to pieces. Motionless forms could be seen m the ice-floes and cries for help were heard. Fire then broke out.

THREE RESCUES EFFECTED. FROM DRIFTING STERN OF SHIP. (Received This Day, 1.30 mm.) STI JOHNJS (Newfoundland), March 1/. The explorer. Henry Sergent the wireless operator. King, and the naMgator, Kennedy, haye been rescued from the drifting stern of the \ iking. THIRTY-NINE MISSING. (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) ST JOHNS (Newfoundland), Mar. K. An official check of the survivors at Horse Island show that 39 are missing, including three Americans and one stowaway from St. Johns.