EXPLOSION ON THE ARAHURA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3090, 22 May 1917, Page 6

EXPLOSION ON THE ARAHURA

VESSEL RESUMES HER VOYAGE

FURTHER DETAILS OP THE 1 ACCIDENT

By Telegraph.-Presa Association,

Gisborne, May 21. Ihe explosion aboard the Arahura caused no structural damage to the vessel, which resumed her voyage last evening. The partitions between* the nremen.s quarters, the stewards' gloryliolo, and tiro passongere' cabins on the port side were shattered by the blast of air resultant from the explosion winch occurred in. the fore peak. The main saloon bulkhead was throwu out o! plumb.

Ihe boatswain, making his usual rounds and sounding the wells and bilges, had entered the fore peak at 7.15 a.m., ami, imagining that the watertight bulkhead between the fore peak and No. 1 hold prevented auy danger troiii gas; lit a, candlo to enable him to unscrew the cap of the sounding well. Immediately an explosion occurred, but though smoke issued from the fore peak there was no lire, which was fortunate, considering ttiat there were 5000 cases of benzine etoral in the fore hold. The boatswain (Soiners) was badly burned about the head ami lower ports of his body. The steward, W. J. White, received a gash ou the face through a glass door being blown in on him, and the fireman, W. Cunningham, sustained a fractured foot. These were sent to hospital. Another fireman, named lilucker, was injured in the foot, but he romnincil aboard. . Immediately the explosion- occurred, Captain Morrison turned the vessel towards llicks Bay, and ordered the boats to be in readiness. Hβ started the fire hose on the fore peak, but found, a few minutes later, that no firo had occurred, and no material damage had resulted. Tho steamer then iusumed hor voyage to Gisborne. Later. - The Arahura's troubles were not completed when she arrived in Napier. This afternoon the crew refused to sail unless all the gasoline which had caused the explosion on Sunday had been removed. This was done by lighters and railway; On the breakwater wharf a spark from the Harbour Board railway engine ignited three trucks of gasoline in .process of being unloaded. . These were burnt on the wharf, and 332 cases were destroyed. The wind prevented the Arahura catching fire. The driver and stoker of the engine 'pluckily kept to their work and pulled the burning mass clear of the buildings. The damage oaused by the explosion was repaired in Napier, and the vessel sailed late tonight.