TRAGEDY IN FIJI

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14167, 18 September 1919, Page 6

TRAGEDY IN FIJI

OVERCOME BY FUMES. THREE MEN KILLED. SUVA, Sept. 8. A terrible tragedy occurred on September 1 (a public holiday) at LevuKa, on board the American schooner King Cyprus, which had nearly finished loading copra. The captain (Rosenthal) went down the forepeak to get some wire for 'Captain Twentyman (harbourmaster). Both men were at once attacked by gas. The harbourmaster managed to get on deck. An A.B. and the cook (Reinhold Bcndomir and Hans Michclsen) went down to rescue Captain Rosenthal, and two Fijians fallowed them, All were asphyxiated.

Volunteers were called, and Captain Twentyman, Mr Robinson and Others managed to get the five men on deck. All were treated, but the two seamen and one native were dead. Since then Captain Rosenthal and the other native have recovered. The bodies of the whites had turned a livid green from the waist up, and evidences of violent spasms were present. There was a I'arge public funeral, and the residents intend erecting monumen’ts over all three deceased. At the inquiry the doctor, who had secured some of the gas, declared it to be CO2 (carbonic acid gas).