EXPLOSION ON A WARSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 6, 8 January 1904, Page 3

EXPLOSION ON A WARSHIP.

COLLAPSE OF A BOILER. Forty-five Men Killed. Received 7, 5.57 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. A wire from Montugue Island reports an expLosicu on 11.M s. Wallaroo, bv which o-m* of t'luu l/t-i k*rs wan iblown up ai.il iu.-ty-Uve nan killv.d. TL'j news came from tl.e ligCvt-lnouse-keeper at tih-e isluivJ, who reports that the Wallaroo posexd lids fonenoicti, en route for Syd«i<>y, going tlead slow. The ves.;ei is expected to reach Sydney un Friday morning, and it was asJud that ambulttnees shoulkl 1a j in readings. The W-alku v o<> left Sjd'noy on December 27 th for Jervis Bay. en route for Hobart, to join the other vessels of tin? ~ | >fu«jdii>n. It is unlrkely thart any details of the catastropli-e will bo a/vail-aMe until the arrival of tfifc Wallaroo in Sjvlney t(>-inorrow. PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. Received 7, 0.24 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. It is supposed the explosion -occurred while tihe uliip was doing a fullapeed triaL A wire received by the Department of Navigation gives the number of killed as forty-three, and asks for ambulances to 1«? in readiness for three. SENSATION IN SYDNEY, Received 7, 10.4 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. The news regaining the WialUiroo created a pro;<ound sensation,. an<l flags were half-masted on all public buiklkigs. The wstval authorities will to- have the repeated when the W«Jlaroo passes Jervis Bay in the hope that the s'i£nel regaidmg the casualties may have teen misread. NO FURTHER PARTICULARS. Received 8, 1.27 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. The Wallarpo passed Jervis Bay about eight o'clock to-night, but no signals were received. She will probably arrive about daylight. ' MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY. HOKITIKA, Jan. 7. The Fremier has sent to Admiral Fanshawe through his Excellency the Governor, a caWe expressive of the frrief of the Government and people of New Zealand at the great sacrifice of life attending the disaster which overtook the Wallaroo.

The Wallaroo is a thuidrtdass cruiser of &' t i»ns, 2575 tons, built m 1889. She is a 19-knot vessel, with engines of 4000 h.p. Her commauder is Captain Francis C. M. Noel.

At the quarterly meeting of circuit officials of the WhiU'K'y Memorial Church, held last evening, a resolution of sympathy and condolence wiuh tihe relatives of the victims of the disaster was paseod. T!ie resolution will be fornandcd to the Afliiriral in charge of the Australasian squadron.