TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8542, 24 July 1893, Page 5

TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.

EXPLOSION ON BOARD SHIP. THE CHIEF MATE KILLED. fua AMOct-lton~.EiMrtric _oioswph-~_opyr**« , « Sydney, July 22. A great seusation was caused today by an explosion on board the German barque Argo, of 985 tons, whioh recently arrived from Hamburg. The Argo, which was lying in Neutral Bay, had discharged her inward cargo, and having taken In some 1450 tons of coal, was ou the point of sailing for Valparaiso. The captain was ashore concluding his final arrangements, and the crew were getting everything in readiness to depart when a terrific explosion occurred. Tbe report was heard a considerable distance and there \yaa great speculation as to what had really happened. The explosion originated low down among the coals, in tbe forehatoh, and extended right aft. The oabin poop vas blown iclean up and the whole deck hoisted bodily," and there is a gap of twenty feet iv the deck. The port boat was blown half way up the mainmast where it caught. The starboard boat was thrown into the water. The vessel appears to have been damaged below the water line as she is making water.

As the explosion occurred a dense volume of smoke and flame arose with a report like the explosion of a powder mag. tine. The chief officer, Mr Arfsten, was thrown with terrific force against some object aud killed outright. A passenger named Chamberlaiu was thrown overboard, but caught the wreckage of the starboard boat, aud iloa.ud until rescued. Mr Khoplach, the second mate, and Pfeifer,, a sailor, have been taken to the hospital, together with Chamberlain, who lies iv a critical condition. The men who were aloft unfurling the tails were shaken off the yards. Many of them jumped overboard and were rescued.

The fire department were quickly on the scone, but their extinguishing apparatus was not required. A detaohment from the British gunboat Lizard did «plen.id work on board the wrecked Vessel. The cause was undoubtedly due to a large oollootion of gas, whioh found vent and was ignited near the plley. The vessel is insured in Hamburg, but the amount is unknown. The cargo is not insured.