OIL TANKER EXPLOSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 November 1929, Page 5

OIL TANKER EXPLOSION

CREW JUMP INTO WATER. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright-) LONDON, November 26. Three terrific explosions blew out 60 feet of the starboard side of the oil tanker “British Chemist” at Grangemouth Harbour. The explosion shook the whole town. Fierce flames lit up the district for miles. Six of the crew, trapped on board, escaped by jumping into the sea. Two were severely burned, one being taken to the hospital. The “British Chemist” arrived from Abadan with a‘cargo of crude oil this morning, and she discharged her cargo. The explosion is believed to be due to vapour being ignited by a fire on a neighbouring vessel. ESSEN CASUALTIES. BERLIN, November 26. At Essen four' persons were killed and 38 were seriously injured when escaping gas blew up the Market Hall at Weberplatz. A blinding flash preceded the collapse of the walls. It is feared that eight of the persons injured will not recover. CHCH. STUDENT INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, November 26. Edward Garrick, aged 18 years, a St. Andrew’s College boy, was making chemical experiments in his father’s garage on Saturday, when a heavy explosion occurred, injuring him severely. He rammed some chlorate of potash throat lozenges and some icing sugar down a three-cjuarter inch iron pipe, and an explosion took place. The youth had five of his ribs broken, while a hole was made in his left breast, puncturing the pleura, and the top of the little finger of his left hand was blown off. He was sent to the hospital. He was operated upon on Saturday, and again on Sunday. His condition is still serious. ... The double doors of the garage were shattered, and a camping trailer was also wrecked.