EXPLOSION ON A CRUISER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXPLOSION ON A CRUISER.

STOKER KILLED ON H.M.S. TERRIBLE.

j Her Majesty's first-class cruiser Terrible 1 (Captain Charles G. Robinson) put into j Plymouth Sound a few days ago, and reI ported that" two boiler explosions had ocI curred on board, resulting in the death of I a stoker, and causing more or less serious ! injuries to several other men. The Terrible ; recently left Portsmouth for the Mediteij ranean, with naval ratings for distribution 1 among the ships of the Mediterranean : Squadron. On reaching Malta she took on 1 board several hundred men for passage to ' England, and, after calling at Gibraltar, left for Portsmouth. It appears that during the whole of the voyage the boilers gave considerable trouble, and that while returning from Malta to Gibraltar an explosion' occurred, which incapacitated several men. lhis accident, however, was completely eclipsed by the experience of the vessel after she left Malta. While steaming at a considerable speed, one of the many tubes of the Belleville boilers with which the cruiser is fitted burst. The explosion occurred on the port side. One of the boilers had been givj ing some trouble, and Stoker Edward SulliI van opened the furnace door to try and ascertain the cause. Just as he did so the tube hurst, and the escaping steam blew | the fire out of the mouth of the furnace, en--1 veloping Sullivan and knocking him down. 1 When picked up he was beyond recognition, being burnt as well as scalded. He died at seven o'clock that evening. A loading stoker, named George Underwood, also received injuries of a serious character. Three other stokers whose names have not transpired, wore also more or less seriously injured. Underwood is reported to be out of danger, and the other injured men are progressing favourably. Ash soon as tho Terrible reached Plymouth Sound, a boat was manned and sent ashore to report the occurrence to the Commander-in-Chief. The naval authorities rigorously withhold information with reference to the explosion. It will be remembered that the Terrible has been the subject of much criticism by engineering experts since the Admiralty decided to provide her with Belleville watertube boilers, she being the first large vessel to be so fitted. Laid down in May, 1895, she commenced her trials in the summer of 1896. and they were concluded early in the following year. In order to further test her steaming capabilities it was decided to send her to Gibraltar, and the First Lord of the Admiralty and some of his colleagues were among the passengers, 'l'ho result- of this trial trip was unsatisfactory, as the speed on the homeward journey hud to be reduced to 15 knots in consequence of excessive vibration, this being 7 knots below the maximum speed under normal conditions. Up to date the Terrible had cost considerably over £750,000, and although it is two vears since she completed her trials she has not vet done anv servieo except as an occasional fleet transport. Her full complement is 894 officers and men—tho largest of any ship in the navy.