LOSS OF SCIENTIFIC SHIP CARNEGIE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 73, 19 December 1929, Page 10

LOSS OF SCIENTIFIC SHIP CARNEGIE

EXPLOSION IN APIA HARBOUR FURTHER PARTICULARS BY MAIL Further details of the explosions on the scientific investigatory brigantine Carnegie have come to hand by mail from the Press Association’s Apia correspondent. In addition to Captain Ault, whose injuries resulted in his death, the following were hurt in the explosion: — A mechanic named Stenstrom and the chief engineer, Mr. Carl Sturk, who were below in the engine-room. They were seriously injured, the former receiving burns on the arms, face, and chest, and the latter burns on the arms and face. Otto Ericson (shock and broken leg), John Lindstrom (burns and cut on arm), and Harry Olsen (minor burns), all seamen, were slightly injured. The last-named was blown into the sea. These seamen were employed on deck filling the tanks with petrol. The galley boy, named Kolar, who was supposed to have been below in the after-galley, is missing, and is believed to have been burnt to death. The galley in which he was was separated only by a partition from oil tanks, which it is believed exploded. Six other minor explosions occurred after the first tragic one. Ship Soon a Mass of Flames. Mr. W. E. Scott, a member of the scientific staff, interviewed, stated he was in the state-room when the explo-, sion occurred, and was slightly shaken. He rushed and secured the cash and the ship’s records, but on account of shock did not think of the ship s articles. These were lost, also some very delicate and specially made instruments. Only seconds were allowed for thought before the ship was in a mass of flames. . \ , Of the two thousand gallons of petrol ordered fifteen hundred had been shipped, and it was consequently hopeless to attempt to save the ship. The pumps could not be used on account of other ships in the harbour. The only alternative was to slip her moorings and beach her, and this was done by Captain Wilcocks, harbourmaster. On account of the intense heat the vessel could not be approached until the masts had fallen. Part of the bronze fittings were burned as if with an acetylene torch. Had the harbour been clear the ship would have been towed out to sea and there left to burn itself out. At 3.30 p.m. on the Friday pumping was commenced, and by 10.30 p.m. the fire was under control, but not until the ship was a total loss. Captain Due to Attend Scientific. Conference. The Carnegie was due to have sailed on Monday, December 21, for Sydney, at which Christmas was to have been spent, prior to visiting Lyttelton and afterwards Cape Town. At Sydney Mr. Parkinson, the second in command, was to have been relieved by Mr. Johnson, who is in charge of the magnetic observatory at Waterloo, Western Australia. While at Cape Town Captain Ault was to have left the ship to travel to Europe to attend a scientific conference, and was to have been relieved by Mr. Johnson. On Saturday, November 30, the Ontario arrived from Pago Pago, and sailed again the same evening for that port with three slightly injured seamen and the embalmed remains of the late captain. Stenstrom and Sturk arc still in Apia Hospital. On December 3 it was reported that their condition was very satisfactory. Captain Ault is survived by a wife and two daughters, who are at present spending a holiday in California. t — s “LEFT THE SERVICE” DOCTOR ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE Dominion Special Service. Christ church, December 18. ‘‘Dr. Minty lias left the service of the hospital owing to his having absented himself when supposed to be on duty.” i This clause appeared in the report of the Hospital Committee to the North Canterbury Hospital Board to-day, and was adopted. At a later stage the chairman (Mr. H. J. Otley) said that in connection with the complaint made by Miss E. J. M. Cardale at the last meeting of the board that a jockey named Webster had been left at tlife hospital for two hours without treatment, the report was not quite accurate. It was quite true that the doctor who was supposed to be on duty in the ward was not present. “Dr. Minty had taken French leave and was away at the United Courts playing tennis,” he said. Miss Cardale asked who saw the patient when he was first admitted: was it a nurse? The chairman explained that when a patient was admitted he was seen by a doctor and then sent to a ward. A patient was seen by a doctor when he first entered the hospital. There was no further discussion on the matter. '