A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13749, 11 September 1908, Page 8

A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM SUFFO

CATION.

LONDON, July 17. The crew of eleven belonging to submarine N0.; 9, engaged in the naval manoeuvres, had a thrilling experience a few days ago, narrowly escaping death from suffocation' by an accident to tb,e machinery which caused ari escape of petrol gas. All were rendered unconscious. The torpedo flotilla, consisting of nine ships, in company with the parent cruiser Aeolus, left Portsmouth for a long run to Devonshire. All went well «mtil the fleet was off Folkestone, when submarine No. 9 was observed from th© Aeolus to be going astern. It was seen that th© little craft was in difficulty, and a signal was made for assistance. From the particulars it appears marvellous that the 6rew was not suffocated. The lieutenant in command, who was in the conning-tower with a brother officer, noticea a smell of petrol gas somewhat stronger than usual, but no notice was taken at the time. Soon after, however, it was evident that something was erratic in the movement of the ship, and in the meantime the fumes of petrol gas became quite overpowering. The officer in command signalled to those below, but could get no answer. The two lieutenants m the con-,ning-tower ventured to go below ; they soon saw the members of the crew lying" about the ship, apparently lifeless ; the artificer in charge of the engines having dropped at nis post. Several attempts were made to enter the ship's hull, but the officers were driven back, as the fumes poured up the hatchway in a volume. Enveloping their faces with wet cloths, the two lieutenants (Groves and Warren) descended; both became unconscious, though one managed to reach the engines and turn off the supply of petrol, thus stopping ithe engines. W\ien the rescue party larrived from the parent ship his body was found stretched across the engines. The A<-olus promptly sent medical aid, all ventilation possible was obtained, and every means to restore the unconscious men was taken. Their condition was serious for some considerable time, but apparently all are now recovering. But the escape was a narrow one. It appears that the occurrence was caused by a slight crack in the petrol tank. It is stated that there are now no white mice on board any of the submarines, save one, the men on which have managed to secure some as pets. From the time that submarines were adopted, white -mice have been carried aboard these craft, their strong susceptibility to the effects of the poisonous gases thrown off by petrol causing their presence to be a/specially useful measure of precaution. It is understood that the recent withdrawal of the white mice from the submarines was due to .an Admiralty order. At present, an officer states, there exists no precautionary measure on the flotilla for the discovery of any leakage of petrol gas. There had been a suggestion of introducing some special invention, but nothing had been done. An Admiralty inquiry is to take place relative to the mishap, which might easily have been attended by fatal consequences. — Wellington Post correspondent.