PORT KEMBLA DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1917, Page 5

PORT KEMBLA DISASTER.

VALUE OF SHIP AND CARGO. By Telegraph.—Press Association. -Wellington, Sept. 19T'.e cargo of the Port Kembla was valued at about half a million, and the ship herself was probably worth at least £150,000 at the present high value 3 of merchant vessels. This is tho fourth of the 'Tort" Line's steamers lost during the war. The others were the Marere and Port Adelaide (submarined), and the Port Nicholson (mined), all in the neighborhood of the Channel. PRECAUTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. By Wire.—Our Parliamentary Reporter. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Massey mentioned in the House to-day that the Government was taking every possible precaution to protect shipping at the wharves, in view of the loss of the Port Kembla and other incidents.

■lt is understood that something like a system of passports, with photographs attached, is to be adopted at some ox t,ho ports in order to prevent criminals gaining access to vessels.

A THRILLING EXPERIENCE. DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. Kelson, Sept. IS. "I" was only half awakened by tlie explosion," said Mr. J. E. Palmer, second steward on tlie Port Keinbln, when questioned by an Evening Mail reporter. "My first impression was that the vessel was struck by a heavy sea forward, and was settling 'down again when I heard the captain calling out: 'She's going! Call all hands!' I was quickly on deck. The night , was particularly dark, but the ship's lights held out to the last. The boats were quickly provisioned and evaiy man in his place. The vessel was listing heavily to starboard. The. skipper, the mate," and the third mate stopped on board.. The second mate, whose watch it was, had command of the boats. The list quickly increased, and before long the starboard gunwales were u.ider water. The officers who had remained on board dived from the vessel a short time before she sank. We had some difficulty in picking them up among the, wreckage. The Skipper was in the water for nearly an hour before being picked up. It was all very sudden, but the behaviour of everybody was splendid. Wlien we signed on in London we knew what might happen, but we take things as they come to us." ■

THE SURPRISE OF HIS LIFE. One man was actually sitting on No. 1 hatch when the explosion occurred. He was having a cup of coffee while waiting to go into the crow's" nest. The next thing he knew he wa9 in the scuppers. A case of jam gave him a nasty bruise on the leg. Another man says the fumes after the explosion nearly did for him. From what many of the crew state strong suspicion attaches to a man who waa working in No. 1 hold, but who did not sail with the vessel.

A fireman who was on duty said that the explosion filled the stokehold with coal dust and ashes, blinding the men for the time 'being. Coal was thrown all over the place, and 'for a while the stokehold was in darkness. When it cleared the men Tushcd on deck.

The force of the explosion threw the cargo out of the holds in all directions. Some men were thrown out of their bunks, and a few of them bear bruises thn/t were caused by being thrown against the side of the ship. It is marvellous that the injuries were so few and slight. The men had a great reception from the thousands who had assembled on the wharf, ringing cheera being given them.