EXPLOSION ON THE ARAHURA

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 May 1917, Page 5

EXPLOSION ON THE ARAHURA

NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. .■ r {tJnxasi Pnga Association. J GISBORNE, This Day. An eacplosibri'occurred aboard the Arahura, but it caused no structural damage, and. the vessel resumed her voyage last evening. Partitions between the firemen's quarters, stewards' glory hole and two" passengers' cabins •on the port side were shattered' by a blast of air following the "explosion which occurred in forepeak. The maio saloon bulkhead was thrown out 01 plumb. (Boatswain (N. Somers was making the usual rounds,- sounding the wells and. bilges. ( B!e entered" the forepeak at 7.15 a.m., and, imagining the bulkhead between the forepeak and No. 1 hold, prevented any- danger from gas, he lit a candle to-enable him to iinsorew a cap of the sounding well. An explosion,' followed, but though, smoke issued from the forepeak, there was ho fire, which was fortunate, as there were 5000 cases of benzine stowed in-the foreholdv: Captain Morrison headed the -vessel towards H3cks " : -Bay and- ordered! the boats to set ready, fie started the firehose in the'l forepeak", but : soon found -that no firevhadi occuiredy arid resumed his voyage. r ,* -'"■-•i-..