HEAVY DEATH ROLL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1932, Page 5

HEAVY DEATH ROLL

SHIP EXPLODES KILLED 23; INJURED 63. (United, Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) MONTREAL, June 17. A series of explosions ripped khe oil tanker, Gym be,line, wide open early on Friday, and killed an estimated totai of twenty men. Seven hours later, only three bodies had been recovered, the heat from the blazing oi! in the hold of the vessel, preventing the search. Thirty-five were injured, many seriously. The explosions were apparently set off by a red hok rivet used by workmen in the dry dock, in which the Cymbeline was being repaired.

One of the fuel tanks exploded when nearly a 'hundred men were' working in and about the vessel, besides the crew of thirty who were sleeping in the fore, part of the vessel. An hour later, while firemen were pouring water on the fierce 'blaze, a (Second and worse blast occurred. Three firemen are known to have lost 'their lives, and two men; who are missing, are believed to be dead. The Oymbeliffe wafe being used for carrying gasoline from Port Arthur, Texas. Her tank*, were empty, but perhaps they contained explosive fumes. There was a substantial quantity of oil in the fuel tanks.

The first explosion ripped the forward pant wide open, and the major! :y of the crew, many with clothes burning, were thrown into the water where they were rescued.

/The explosions entirely wrecked the dry dock which was blown apart, one section floating away. .The first- .explosion was in fact two detonations, close together, and the second comprised a number of smaller blasts. .

The Cymbeline was registered 3,700 tons.

• It was stated later that the dead number twenty-three. Ten bodies lhave been recovered, while 'the injured total sixty-three, including fifteen firemen.