A SHIP BLOWN UP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7269, 24 July 1893, Page 4

A SHIP BLOWN UP.

LOSS OF LIFE.

FIRE DAMP EXPLOSION.

(Per Kleoteio Telegra —Goperiuht. )

(Per Press Association.)

(Received noon, July 23rd.) SrDNBT, July. 22. t A great sensation was caused to-day by an explosion ou board the German barque Argo, of 985 tons, which recently arrived from Hamburg. The Argo had discharged her inward cargo, and having taken in about 1450 tons of coal, was on the point of sailing for Valparaiso. The captain was ashore completing his final arrangements, and the crew were getting everything in readiness to depart, when a terrific explosion occurred. The report was heard a considerable distance, and there was great speculation as to what had really happened. The explosion originated low down among the coals in the fore hatch, and extended right aft. The cabin poop was blown clean up, and the whole deck hoisted bodily, and there is a gap of 20 feet in the deck. The port boat was blown half way up the mainmast, where it caught, and the starboard boat was thrown into the water. The vessel • appears to have been damaged below the water line, as she is making water. As the explosion occurred a dense volume of smoke and flame arose, with a report like the explosion of a powder magazine. The chief officer, Mr Arfsten, was thrown with terrific force against some object and killed outright. A passenger named Chamberlain was thrown overboard, but caught the wreckage of the starboard boat, and floated until rescued. Mr Kloplarch, the second officer, and Pfeifer, a sailor, have been taken to the hospital, together with Chamberlain, who lies in a critical condition. The men who were aloft unfurling sails were shaken off the yards. Many of them jumped overboard, and were rescued. The fire department were quickly on the scene, but their extinguishing apparatus was not required. A detachment from the British gunboat Lizard did splendid work on board the wrecked vessel. The explosion was undoubtedly due to a large collection of gas, which found vent and was ignited near the galley. The vessel is insured in Hamburg, but the amount is unknown. The cargo is not insured.