BENZINE FUMES IGNITE

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13489, 21 May 1917, Page 4

BENZINE FUMES IGNITE

EXPLOSION ON A STEAMER.

FOUR MEN INJURED

By Telegraph.—Press Association. GISBORNE, Sunday. An explosion occurred in the forehold of the Arahura at seven o'clock this moining, whOn the vessel was four or five miles north of Hicks Bay. She carried a quantity of benzine, and the ignition or the fumes caused the explosion.

Four mefnbers of the crew were ini jured. The boatswain, Mr Sowers, was seveie'y burned; Mr W. J. Wiutv, ,t steward, had a hand fractured, and his fa:e burnei; and Mr W. Cunninghaiffi a fireman, sustained a fractured foot? These men are now in the Gisborv: Hospital. Mr Hacker, a fireman, wa-> slightly burned, lut did not have »c----!e .ve the ship.

GISBORNE, Monday. The ■explosion on board the Arahura caused no structural damage, and the vessel resumed her voyage last evening. The partitions between the firemen's quarters, the stewards' glory hole and two passengers' cabins on the port side were shattered by a blast of air, following the explosion, which occurred jn the forepeak. The n ain saloon bulk head was thrown out of plumb. Ihe boatswain, N. Sowers, was making his usual rounds, sounding the wells and bilges. He entered the forepeak at 7.15 a.m., and imagining that the hulk head between the forepeak and No. 2 hold prevented any danger from he lit a candle to enable him to unscrew the cap of the sounding well. An explosion followed, but though smoke issued from the forepeak there was no fire, which w.is fortunate as there were 50J0 cases of benzine stored in the forehold.

Captain Morrison headed the vessel towards Hkks Bay and o.dered the boat to be got ready, and started the fire hose on the forepeak, but soon found that no fire hid occurred, and the steamer resumed her voyage.

A petition to the Minister for .Ma' . was signed by 58 passengers, piotostiiig aga'nst tlie carriage of benzine on passenger ships.