AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 June 1901, Page 4

AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT

Terrible Scene on Board a Pas

senger Steamer.

Miraculous Escape of the Pas sengers.

The American liner New York, which arrived at New York on March 18tb. twenty-four hours overdue, was the scone of a disastrous accident.

During the evening a largo ammonia tank, connected with the refrigerating apparatus in the after part of the vessel suddenly exploded with terrible effect. The released ammonia burst forth in white cloud and spread rapidly, the suffocating fumes overcoming all who were near.

The steerage passengers, who had just assembled for supper in the adjoining cabin, immediately began to inhale the torturing, deadly vapour and an awful panic followed. The frenzied people buried their heads in their arms while making a general rush for the deck. Many dropped down, suffering excruciating agonies several stewards being among the number.

An alarm was quickly given, and with excellent discipline the work of rescue immediately began. Members of the crew, headed by the captain, tied wet towels about their heads, and, holding their breath forced their way into the cabin, and got out those in danger. Many of the victims were unconscious, and remained so for hours. Immediately after the explosion, Carl Enghvist, a steerage passenger, died from heart disease, and John Kent, a steward, died thirty-six hours later of pneumonia, caused by inhaling ammonia fumes. The victims were buried at sea. Ten stewards and fifteen steerage passengers suffered severely from inflammation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Several second-class passengers, interviewed, declared that their quarters were filled with the fumes of ammouia, and had the explosion occurred at night not a soul in the steerage and second cabin would have escaped. None of the firstclass passengers heard of the explosion or knew of the accident till told by the ship’s officers.