FATAL EXPLOSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3566, 28 September 1916, Page 5

FATAL EXPLOSION.

) ACCIDENT OM WAIRyNA JN / ""■ SYDNEY.

SIX MEN KILLED

SYDNEY, September 27. An explosion occurred on the Union Company's steamer Wairuna, which was discharging at Margaret Street .wharl.l;' '■'',•'■"' -■■•: ■,-'•■ •■'-'■ •. ■ ' ■ ■ ' Six mcii were killed and three were injured. The cargo in the forehold included cases" of benzine, the leakage from which is supposed to be the cause of tlwi explosion. 1 Tbe^men killed were John 'Lewis, Iloberi Gamble, A. Scotsman, Samuel Clarke, David Alexander, and Owen Vaggers. One of the injured men is not expected to survive. All the men are local shipwrights.

The explosion occurred in the lower forohold. A fire followed. It is sup-1 posed that a light came in contact with the fumes of the benzine, although tho benzine cargo had completed discharg-j ing last evening. _ Eighteen men who were working m the hold were hurled in all directions.^ Firemen hnd the greatest difficulty N in rescuing thorn owing to the smoke fumes. The killed were terribly muti-! lated. One was blown to pieces and another was unrecognisable. The fire was subdued after an hour's work. The damage to the steamer. 5a not serious, but will delay her departure.