BATTLESHIP DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

BATTLESHIP DISASTER.

I EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN, DECK STREWN WITH KILLED AND INJURED. News of the appalling calamity, which has ; wreaked death and destruction upon; the crew 'of ,H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, belonging to the Mediterranean Squadron, has been published in Loudon. The 'disaster, occurred outside the harbour of. Astako, in Grecian waters. The official statement announces that - six fatalities had occurred, including / Captain ::Spurway/ R.M.A., while amongst/ the 19: injured are two officersCommander Su Robert K. 2 Arbuthnot and Lieut. Thomas N. James. ; : The official message is as follows : — , : " The Secretary of the Admiralty informs us that a telegram has been received from, the. Commander-in-Chief on; the Mediterranean Station reporting that a serious gun accident,.. due : ; to the ignition of a'.- 6-inch cartridge, with the breech screw not /in place, the cause of which is being inquired into, has occurred on board H.M.S.? Royal Sovereign, resulting in the following casualties" :—[Names given.] When the gun exploded Chief Armourer Primmer was opening the breech of the gun to ascertain the cause of a missfire, and nis head was blown off. Captain Spurway was conscious for two hours aft the accident. At the moment of the disaster he had stepped in front of Commander Sir Robert Arbuthnot, and there is not the least doubt that the movement saved the latter's life; although Commander Arbuthnot did not escape being '■ badly burnt. : Lieut.: Jam'-.* had a really wonderful escape. {The charge missed his head so narrowly, that it grazed his nose. A Renter message practically confirms this explanation of the sad affair, and adds ...that Captain : Spurway the men killed by the explosion were buried at sea. There was no, defect in the gun.or the cordite, The behaviour of officers and men at the time of. the accident and after is reported by Captain Adar to have been excellent. : King Edward VII. and the Prince of Wales have telegraphed kindly expressions of sympathy with the officers and men injured by the explosion,. together with inquiries as to how they are progressing.