EXPLOSION ON ARAHURA.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1917, Page 3

EXPLOSION ON ARAHURA.

DAMAGE NOT SERIOUS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. t Gisborne, May 21. An explosion occurred on board t'; Aralmra, but caused no structural d:.:: age. to the vessel, which resumed Ik. I'oyage last evening. Partitions hetwee.: the firemen's quarters, the stewards ''glory hole," and two passenger cabins on the port side were shattered by tfcc blast of air resulting from the explosion, which occurred in the forepeak, and the main saloon bulkhead was thrown out pf plumb. The boatswain, while making his usual rounds for the purpose of sounding wells and bilges, lmd entered the forepeal; at 7.15 a.m., and, imagining that the watertight bulkhead between the forepeak and No. 1 hold prevented any danger from gan, lit a candle to'enable him to unscrew the cap of the sounding well. Immediately an explosion occurred, but though smoke issued from the forepeak there was no tire, which was fortunate, considering that 5000 eases of benzine were stored in the forehold. The boatswain, N. Somers, was badly burned about the head and lower parts of the body. A steward, J. \V| White, received ,a gash on the face through a glass door being blown in on him, and W. Cunningham, a. fireman, sustained a fractured foot. These men were sent to hospital, another fireman, Huckcr, whose foot was injured, remaining on board. Immediately the explosion occurred Captain Morrison turned the vessel towards Hicks Bay, gave orders for the j boats to be in readiness, and started the fire hose in the forepeak, but. when it was found a few minutes later that no firo had occurred and no material tlamago had resulted the steamer resumed her voyage to Gisborne. Tho passengers signed a protest ngains the carriage of such large quantities of benzine on board passenger ships, •