Benzine Blows Up

Southland Times, Issue 10968, 20 February 1907, Page 2

Benzine Blows Up

WAKES A foWN; fetJRNS BOATS AND KILLS, SAILORS; Per United Phish ASSBciaUbu. By / Elefetrlb Telegraph.— Copyright COOK’foWN; Feb. 19. Received 19th, 10.33 p.m. Three hundred and forty cases of benzine aboard the schooner Papuan, for transfer to New. Guided, explttdtod last flight .will ji thrrifil? roar. The j iown was instantly awaJconod. Tho people thought an earthquake had occurred. Tho Papuan caught fire and the glare illuminated the harbour for a great distance. The flames spread rapidly and the vessel was soon enveloped. The efforts of the firemen were directed towards saving the wharves. By four irt the morning the Pttpuatil was bilhnt to the water’s edge. 1 The canisters of ' benzine continued to . burn long after , the vessel had been destroyed. , It is believed that tho explosion . was caused by a native, gping below . with a lighted pipe, which ignited the fumes; Mhi-tin.; ihe Steward, arid throe ISfclv Guinea bßys wore aboard at the time of the disaster. Martin succeeded in escaping to the wharf severely injured. One of the New Guinea boys *was found under the wharf i wheth ho was thl'riwii by the force of tiie explosion. His injuries are liliely ip be fatal. Two other natives on tiie vessel were blown to pieces; , The Papuail was irisured for . £3500;