THE BENNINGTON DISASTER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 52

THE BENNINGTON DISASTER

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. ARDUOUS TASK OF THE RESCUERS. GREAT DOSS OF LIFE. SYDNEY, August 15. The Canadian mail brings a few particulars of idio explosion on 1/110 United States v gunboat Bennington, at San Diego last month, which resulted m great loss of life. It is stated that suddenly there was-a deep-toned rumbling intonation like a distant explosion of dynamite. The vessel was seen to REEL AND SHAKE from stem to stern, and a dense cloud of white steam shot skyward. The entire ' upper-deck appeared to lift, and. then settle hack with a crash. The vessel was about to sail for Panama, gfceam poured out of the ventilating funnels, and through every aperture that gave an opening from the lower regions of the snip. It was some time before the rescuers could venture below. ■' Twice bands of brave workers Woix> forced to abandon' tbeir sickening and coane above, owing to the inflow of water that filled the engine P T*rl boiler-rooms. The rescuers faced ifc - TERRIBLE SPECTACLE beneath the main-deck, in the forward part of the vessel, where the crews quarters were located. Here the greatest loss of life occurred. Many of the crew were in their quarter®, some swinging comfortably in their hammocks. The lead and injured were fra.Wn out of this section to the number of almost two score. TYhen the was called, one hundred and thirtysix were unaccounted for. It is believed part of the furnace fell against a boiler, which exploded. It was forced aft, and probably other boilers exploded immediately afterwards and the steam-pipes were wrecked, liberating steam. Every man whp was in the ongine-rooms at the time must have met bis death.