TWO DISTINCT EXPLOSIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 242, 1 July 1918, Page 8

TWO DISTINCT EXPLOSIONS

Tho majority of the survivors agree that there were two 'distinct explosions occurring between Nos. !l and 4 hatches on the after-part of the engine-room. Fortunately no one was actually berthed over the spot." The explosion wrecked tho social hall and staircase leading to it. the shaft tunnel was shuttered, and the. shaft broken, letting Him water into the engine-room and Hooding the dynamo, with the result that all lights were extinguished. The Wimmera rnmainecl on an even keel for ten minutes, and then heeled to port until the funnel was lying on the water. Sho then

partly righted herself before sinking by the sli'i'ii, twenty uiinutee alter the «■ plosion. It is thought: that the safety of the stewardesses was due to tlio fact tlint they wore attending to Urn paseeugors at the time, otherwise the. explosion, occurring near their room, would lmvo prevented them from going forward. The stewards were berthed further aft, and were forced to fclimb out of tlio storeroom hutch to the deck. The wind was blowing strongly from tlio south-west, and there was a rough sea, with a heavy ground swell, 'l'hft vessel was fairly steady while the boats were being launched, which accounts for their getting away without much damage. Of eight boats carried, six we™ on the boat-deck, live of theso getting clear of the ship, tlio other being smashed in swinging out and swamped when tlio vessel heeled over her. It is fairly certain that the Ktewarderfsns wero lost in this boat, as some of the survivors nay they saw them in il. Tlio fourth engineer was afto engaged i" swinging out this boat, and was uot again seen. Of the two smaller boats, an aflcrhouse one, it is staled, was destroyed by the explosion, and tlio other wns too small to bo of much use. So far us can be gathered no rafts were on board.