PROBABLE CAUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 15, 18 July 1939, Page 9

PROBABLE CAUSE

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

— _f (Received July 18, 9. a.m.) ( * \ COLOMBO, July 17. It is revealed that the bellboy named Hall who was reported- among the dead as a result of the explosion on the P. and 0.! liner Narkunda is among the injured. He is in hospital and progressing favourably. It is stated that spontaneous combustion is the most likely cause of the explosion. It is believed . that something in tlie cargo fermented, emitting gas which ignited. Smoke was seen an hour and a half before the explosion. This entirely disposes of the bomb theory. The funeral of the four men ■ who were killed took place this-morning. The Governor of Ceylon, Sir Andrew Caldecott, sent a wreath. One of the victims of the explosion, Quartermaster R. Searle, was to marry a stewardess, Miss Meace, upon, his return to England. Miss Meace was near the hold at the time of 4he explosion, and was knocked down *an,d injured. The Colombo correspondent of- "The Times" states that passengers testifyto the calmness of the crew, and says that their devotion to duty allayed fears. . Many -mailbags were soaked with water and 70 were damaged.

Eight of those injured have been discharged from hospital.