THE CARNEGIE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1929, Page 5

THE CARNEGIE

DETAILS OF EXPLOSION. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. Further details of the explosions on the scientific investigatory brigantine Carnegie have to come to hand by mail from the Press Association’s Apia correspondent. In addition to Captain. Ault whose injuries resulted in his death,' the following were hurt in, the explosion : —Mechanic Stonstrom and Chief Engineer Carl Sturk, who were below in the onginerooin, seriously injured, the former receiving burns on fclie arms, face and chest and the latter burns on arms and' face. Three seamen, Otto Erickson (shock and broken leg), John Lindstrum (burns and cut on arm), and Harry Olsen (minor burns) were slightly injured. The last-named was blown into the sea. These seamen were employed oil deck, filling tanks with petrol. A galley boy named Kolar who was supposed to have been below in the alter galley is missing and is believed to have been burnt to death. Ihe galley in which lie was working was separated only by a partition from the oil tanks which it is believed exploded.

Six other minor explosions occurred after the first tragic one. Mr W. E. Scott (a member of the scientific staff) interviewed, states lie was in the state room when the explosion occurred and was slightly shaken. He rushed and secured cash and the ship’s records but on account of shock did not think of the ship’s articles and these were lost; also somo tff the most delicate and specially made instruments. Only seconds were allowed for thought before the ship was in a mass of flames. Of two thousand gallons of petrol ordered, fifteen hundred had been shipped and it was consequently helpless to attempt to save the ship. The pumps could not be used, and on account of the other ship in the harbour, the only alternative was to slip her moorings and beach her, and this was done by Captain Wiilcox, harbour master.

On account of the intense heat the vessel could not be approached until the masts had fallen. Part of the bronze fittings wfere burned as if with an acetylene torch. Had the harbour been clear, the ship would have. been towed out to sea and there left to bum herself, out.

At 3.40 p.m. on the Friday pumping was commenced and by 10.30 p.m. the fire was under control but not until the ship was a total loss. The vessel was due to have sailed on Monday, 2nd December, for Sydney, at which Christmas was to have been spent, prior to visiting Lyttelton and afterwards Capetown. At Sydney, Parkinson, jn command, was to have been* relieved by Johnson, who is in charge of the magnetic observatory at Waterloo, Western Australia; while at Capetown, Captain Ault was to have left the ship to travel to Europe to attend a scientific conference and to have been relieved by Johnson.

f . On Saturday, November 30th, the Ontario arrived, from Pago Pago and Hailed again ;the same evening for that port until the three slightly injured seamen and the embalmed remains of the late Captain. S ten strom and Stork are still in Apia hospital. On December 3rd, it was reported their condition was very satisfactory. Captain Ault is survived by a wife and two daughters, at present spending a holiday in California.