PORT KEMBLA

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1917, Page 7

PORT KEMBLA

A THRILLING EXPERIENCE

DETAILS OF THE DISASTER

“1 was only half awakened by the explosion,” said Mr. E. J. Palmer, second steward of the Port Kemlda, when questioned by a Nelson "Mail reporter. “My first impression was that the vessel had struck a heavy sea forward and was settling down again when 1 heard the captain calling out: 'She’s going! Call all hands!’ I was quickly on deck. The night was particularly dark, but the ship's lights held out 1° the last. The boats were quickly provisioned, and every man was in his place. The vessel was listing heavily to starboard. The skipper, the mate, and the third mate stopped on hoard. The second mate, whoso watch it- was, had command ot the boat. The list, quickly, increased, and before long the starboard gunwales were under water. The ollicers who had remained on board dived from the vessel a short lime before she sank. We had some dilliculty in picking them up among the wreckage. The skipper was in the water for nearly an hour before being picked up. It was all very sudden, but the behaviour of everybody was splendid. When we signed on in London we knew what might happen, but we take things as they come to us.” One man was actually sitting on No, 1 hatch when the bomb exploded. He was having a cup of coffee while waiting to go into the crow’s nest. The next thing he knew' he was in the scuppers. A case of jam gave him a nasty bruise on the leg. Another man says that the fumes after the explosion nearly did for him. From what many of the crew state strong suspicion attaches to a man who was working in No. 1 hold, but who did not sail with the vessel. A fireman who was on duty said that the explosion filled the stokehold with coal dust and ashes, blinding the men for the time being. Coal was thrown all over (he place, and for a while the’ stokehold was in darkness. When it, cleared the men rushed on deck. The force of the explosion threw the cargo out of the holds in all directions. Some men were thrown out of their hunks, and a few of them bear bruises that were caused by being thrown against I he side of the ship. -It is marvellous that the injuries were so few ami slight. ‘