EXPLOSION ON DREDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20217, 30 March 1929, Page 12

EXPLOSION ON DREDGE.

CHIEF ENGINEER KILLED. iTWO OTHER MEN INJURED. FLOOR OF CABIN BLOWN OUT. ACCIDENT AT WANGANUI. [r,Y TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WANGANUI, Friday. _ A terrific explosion on the dredge Kaicnc berthed at Castlecliff yesterday morning resulted in one man being killed and two injured, while damage was done to the upper part of the vessel. The three men involved were: — Killed. - - Mr. Joseph Cable, chief mechanical engineer to the Harbour Board. Ikjtbed. Mr. Duncan McKinnon, second dredge engineer j burns on heati and arins, abrasions and shock. Mr. William McKeague, greaser; severe burns on body, abrasions and shock. The Kaione, which is ownprl by the Wanganui Harbour Board, is not at piesent being used on harbour works here and last week an agreement was made "with the Nelson Harbour Board for the hire of the vessel. This week a start was made getting her ready for her new work and for two or three days prior to the accident men had been at work on board. Yesterday morning Messrs. McKinnon and McKeaaue went on board to check tne Ship's engine room stores, which were in a room directly under a cabin used by Mr. •Cable. This storeroom was below the deck end was very dark, so that the men would need a light for their work. Mr. Cable was on deck when the other two went below and told another employee of the .board that he was going ashore to get something from the office. Apparently, however, he went to his cabin instead, for when th<j explosion occurred a few minutes later and an examination c: the ghip was made his body was found among the debris in his cabin.

Blown Against Cabin Hoof. The explosion occurred in the storeroom below and the floor of the cabin was blown nght out. It was apparent that Mr. Cable was blown against the roof, his neck was broken and his skull fractured. Tho ship's surgeon of H.M.S- eronica, 'which was berthed alongside tho dredge, was immediately in attendance and Dr. Douglas Wilson arrived a few minutes ■later. Messrs. McKinnon and McKeaguo were extricated from the storeroom, both badly burned. Immediate attention was given on the wharf and they were then rushed to the public hospital, where they were this afternoon reported to be making satisfactory progress. The actual cause of the explosion cannot he ascertained until the injured men are able to give an account of what happened, hut it is thought possible that they used a naked light which caused some fumes to .ignite. Two gallons of petrol were issued to the dredge on Tuesday and this may have exploded, but it 'S not known whether the issue had been all used or riot. Superintendent Williams, of the fire hrigatle, whose services was called on to ( extinguish a fire in the cabin following the explosion, said he understand that there w„s sorno turpentine there as well as Lenzsne and combustion might follow if tho fumes combined. « Great Force of Explosion. The bottom of the cabin was blown out and so was the thick glass on the top of the hatch. A hatch cover to which was attached a weight of lead v. as blown open. A substantial piece of heavy wood fitting was shot out on to the ceck and in this there is a large dent, showing the force of' the explosion. Apart from the shattering of the cabin there is apparently no other damage to ihe Kaione and her original programme to leave for Nelson next week will be carried out. Mr. Cable, who was 57 years of age. was married, but had r,o children. Ifis wife is on a holiday vh.h to Melbourne. He had been in tho board's employ for nearly seven years, prior to which he was inspector and surveyor of ships for the Marine Department. Previously he had spent several years with the Union Company, holding the ran', of chief engineer. His brother, Mr. M. Cable, is tramway engineer for the Wellington C'i'.y Council. Both the injured men are married. Mr. "McKeague's wife and family reside in Wellington. T3oth men have been in the board's employ for some years.