ACCIDENT TO A SUBMARINE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9140, 16 July 1908, Page 5

ACCIDENT TO A SUBMARINE.

AN UNCONSCIOUS CREW

Received July 15, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, July 15. A peculiar accident occurred on board a submarine yesterday. It appears that seven submarines were proceeding from Portland to Dover, and when off Folkestone the parent ship Aelous, which was accompanying them, noticed that one submarine was falling bohind. Assistance was sent, and it was discovered that there had been an escape of gasoline. Six of .the crew were rescued unconscious. Five have since recovered consciousness. It is stated that Lieut. Warren, who was in command of the submarine, and Lieut. Groves, who was second in command, were both in the conning tower, and noticing the fumes signalled to those below. No answer wag received, and the Lieutenants, on descending, found the engines going at full speed. The fumes were overpowering and the'crew were lying apparently lifeless. The Lieutenants resolved to try and stop the engines. Several attemnts were made to enter the hull, but these failed. i The fumes poured up the hatchway in volumes. A petty officer was f nmmoned from the tower, and in trying to reach the engines he fell unconscious. Then Lieutenants Warren and Groves enveloped their faces in wet cloths and descended. They were, however, rendered unconscious, but Lieutenant Groves had reached the engines and turned oft the supply of petrol, thus stopping the engines. The rescuers found him stretched across the engines. One man is still in a critical state. The accident is due to a spring connected with the valve failing to act.