TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 255, 20 June 1932, Page 5

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

(Press. Assn.-

tanker ripped open empty oil ship blows up in montreal harbour. MANY DEAD AND INJURED.

-By TelegTaph— Copyright).

MONTREAL, Saturday. A series of explosions ripped the oil tanker Cymheline (STOO" tons) wide open on Friday as a result of which 23 are dead and 63 injured, many seriously, including 15 firemen. The heat from the blazing oil' in the hold of the vessel prevented a search for seven hours. Apparently the explosion was caused by a red hot rivet used by workmen of Canadian Yickers, Ltd., opefators of the floating doclc in which the Cymheline was being repaired. ' One of the fuel tanks exploded' when nearly 100 men were working in and ahout the vessel, beside a crew of 30 sleeping in the fore part of the ship. An hour later, while firemen were pouring water on a fierce blaze, a second and worse blast occurred, inflicting casualties among the firemen. The Cymheline had been used for carrying gasoline from Port Arthur, Texas. The tanks were empty but perhaps contained explosive fumes.

There was a substantial quantity of oil in the fuel tanks. The first explosion ripped the forward part of the ship wide open. The majority of the crew, many of them with their clothes burning, were thrown into the water, where they were rescued. Firemen Killed. It was later revealcd that the Fire Chief, Mr. Raoul Gauthier, and four of tbe firemen were among the dead. They were killed while leading a search for the missing. The explosions entirely wrecked the doek, which was blown apart, one section floating away. The first explosion was in fact two detonations close together, and between them and a second there were severnl smaller blasts. Ten bodies have been recovered.