CARNEGIE EXPLOSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 11

CARNEGIE EXPLOSION

DETAILS OF TRAGEDY ON SCIENCE YACHT INJURED MEN RECOVERING Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Further details of the explosions on the scientific investigatory brigantine Carnegie have come to hand by mail from Apia. In addition to the captain, whose injuries resulted in his death, the following were hurt in the explosion: Mechanic Stenstrom and Chief Engineer Carl Sturk, who were below in the engineroom, were serious injured, the former receiving burns on his arms, face, and chest, and the latter burns on his arms and face. Three seamen, Otto Ericson, shock and broken leg; John Lindstrom, burns and a cut on his arm; and Harry Olsen, minor burns, were slightly injured. The last-named was blown into the sea. These seamen were employed on the deck filling the tanks with petrol. The galley-boy, named Kolar, who was supposed to have been below in the after-galley, is missing, and is believed to have been burned to death. The galley in which he was 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, when interviewed, said he was in the state room when the explosion occurred, and was slightly shaken. He rushed and s J ecured the cash and ship’s records, but on account of shock did not think of the ship’s articles. These were lost, as well as some very delicate and spec-ially-made instruments. Only seconds were allowed for thought before the ship was in a mass of flames. Of the 2,000 gallons of petrol ordered 1,500 had been shipped, and it was consequently hopeless to attempt to save the ship. The pumps could not be used on account of other ships in the harbour. The only alternative was to slip her moorings and beach her, and this was done by Captain Wilcocks, the harbourmaster. On account of the intense heat the vessel could not be approached until the masts had fallen. Part of the bronze fittings were 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 burn itself out. At 3.30 p.m. on the Friday pumping was begun, 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, December 2, for Sydney, where Christmas was to have been spent before visiting Lyttelton, and afterward Capetown. At Sydney Mr. Parkinson, second in command, was to have been relieved by Mr. 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 Mr. Johnson. On Saturday, November 30, the Ontario arrived from Pago Pago and sailed again on the same evening for that port, with the three slightly injured seamen and the embalmed body of the captain. Stenstrom and Sturk are still in the Apia Hospital. On December 3 it -was reported that their condition was very satisfactory. Captain Ault is survived by his wife and two daughters, at present spending a holiday in California.