STEAMER BURNT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8647, 4 February 1914, Page 7

STEAMER BURNT

UiL CARGO EXPLODER TRAGIC END OF WELL-KNOWN COASTER WIOA ONE MAN KILLED INSTANTLY. OTHERS HAVE MARVELLOUS ESCAPES. Press Association. WANGANUI, February 3. . Tlio old steamer Moa, owned by the Wellington sind Wanganui Steam Packet Company, and well known in the coastal trade of New Zealand for the past fifty years, came to the end of her career in a sensational manner this morning. She had arrived from Wellington, and while waiting to enter the river an explosion occurred on board, and her cargo of kerosene and motor spirit burst into flame, quickly enveloping the ship and driving the crew overboard. One man was killed outright by the explosion, and the burnt-out hulk of the ship later was drifting about near tho surf, a couple if miles south of tho breakwater. RAPID DESTRUCTION. x’ho pilot at tho Heads sighted the Mon at 9.45 a.m., and it was observed that a fire had broken out and that the Arapawa was standing by, apparently lending assistance. At 11.45 a.m. the Arapawa reached the wharf with tho survivors from the stricken vessel. One of her seamen, W. Kennedy, was killed instantly when the explosion occurred, as ho was sitting on the stern hatch. In an incredibly short space of time after the outbreak tho vessel wtrs ablaze from stem to stern, flames leaping from the ports and funnel. Tho crew, being unable to launch the boats, which wore instantly wrapped in flames, threw life-buoys and bits of wood overboard, and then jumped into tho sea. Meanwhile, tho Arapawa, which had been lying about a mile away, was rushing to her assistance, but could pot approach within a hundred yards of the burning vessel owing to the terrific heat, and the fact that, the Arapawa herself was loaded with over 4000 cases of benzine and kerosene made that vessel’s position anything but safe even at that distance. So suddenly did the survivors have to leave tho doomed vessel that it was impossible to attempt to recover tho body of their unfortunate comrade. As it was, tire re could have been no hope for those aboard tho Moa had the Arapawa not been handy. One of the firemen was rather badly burned, bub the others all escaped unhurt. AN EYE-WITNESS’S STORY. Mr C. E. Mackey, ex-Mayor of Wanganui, was a passenger aboard tho Arapawa. “ The fire broke out about 9.30 a.m.,” he said, when describing the disaster to a pressman. “ The Arapawa had hod a. very good run from Wellington, and arrived off tho Heads at 8 o’clock. Aa the tide was too low to bring the Arapawa up to the town wharf the engines were stopped and she was drifting about three miles oft the bar. •

“ Suddenly the noise of an explosion was heard. I thought it woe a gun, but the mate declared it was a signal. Captain Thomson and the mate then took a look at the Moa, which was lying about a mile away. Nothing was noticeable for a- minute or two, but then smoko oould be seen rising, followed by a burst of flame. “ The order was immediately given, ‘Full steam ahead I’ followed with another to lower the lifeboat. It was a treat to see the way the crew handled the bqat. In a moment it was lifted off the blocks, the davits were moved out, and she was lowered into the water. Meanwhile the Arapawa was racing at full speed towards tue Moa, towing the lifeboat. CREW JUMP FOR LIFE.

“It could now bo seen that the flames had spread so fast that the Hoa’s crew could not lower the boats. They could bo observed throwing bunks and pieces of wood overboard. Several jumped into the water, while the remainder clustered forward. By this time the Moa was all ablaze astern, and as the engines could not he stppped »he was steering in a circle. “ The Arapawa first reached three men clinging to a gangway. Lifebuoys were thrown to them, and they were picked up. The Arapawa had now approached so close to the burning vessel that the heat was oppressive. The lifeboat was then cast loose and the men clinging to the forward part of the Moa were told to jump. On© by one they dived into the sea, and as soon as they had drifted astern of the Moa they were picked np. “One proved to be rather severely burned. Three men were still afloat pome half a mile away clinging to the buoys, and the Arapawa immediately raced to them, and they were soon got aboard. This accounted for all the crew except the one who had been killed. “ It was now seen that the alarm had boon given on shore as the lighter Shamrock was already across the bar heading for the scene. The Arapawa Was headed for the entrance as soon as all the men were picked up.” Mr Mackay says the officers and men of both vessels behaved with greatest coolness. SURVIVORS UNCOMMUNICATIVE. The officers and men of the ill-fated Reamer are very reticent regarding their experiences. All that can bo gleaned from them is that the first intimation they had was a terrific explosion. As to the cause of the explosion they state that all they know is that the explosion occurred, but how they do not know, unless it was duo to spontaneous combustion. The. survivors lost all their belongings, including a month’s wages and other moneys. The crew comprised the following; W. H. Sawyers, captain. R. Read, mate. E. Greenwood, engineer. IV. Higgins, R. Nelson, firemen. W. Kennedy (killed), W. Bannatyne, A.B.’s. J. Giffney, C. McAlinder, ordinary peamen. S. Lavin, cook. R, Alexander, cabin boy. A BRILLIANT FINALE.

So far os could Ire ascertained tonight the hulk of the Mo a. was still

floating off the beach to tho south of the entrance. During the whole day largo volumes of smoke were emitted, together with flames which leaped mast-high. A magnificent spectacle was witnessed about 8 o'clock to-night, when a terrific explosion took place, apparently amidships. Xhis was followed by a wonderfully brilliant crimson light, which lit «P sea and land for miJes around. This was apparently the grand finale, for tho flames seemed to die out shortly afterwards, and completely disappear at 10 o'clock.