TERRIBLE EXPLOSION

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3852, 8 July 1891, Page 2

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION

Fatality on H- M. S- Cordelia, Sceno of Indescribable Horror. Siz Persons Killod. [United Press Association.] Sydxey, July G. H. M. S. Cjrdelia, which has been cruising in Fijian waters with Sir J. B. Thurston, Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, returned to port this afternoon.

Captain Grenl'ell reports that a terrible explosion took place on board on the 29th June, when the vessel was between Fiji and Noumea. Gun practice, which the vessel had been engaged in, was just concluding, and as the seventh shot, with a full charge, made up with common shell, was about to be fired the fearful calamity occurred.

A SCENE OF INDESCRIBABLE HORROR ensued, the bodies of a number of the crew being strewn about the deck. Captain Grenfell states ttiat he was standing at the port side, watching the men at the gun when the explosion took placß. The air was tilled with fragments of metal, and pieces of the shattered gun went as high as the fore topgallant lift and the royal sheet, both of which were shot away. The breech block of the gun was carried right across the deck, crushing through the fixtures in its track. A piece of uon tore through the funnel and damagod the gear. Nearly every part of the outside trunnions went overboard. The right trunnion went forward, and the left aft, striking the poop and falling on the quarter deck. The explosion burst through the upper deck, and what was known as the left bracket of the gun carriage was blown down on the main deck, severely injuring two men. The whole force of the explosion seems to have been on board. As soon as the wreckage was cleared away it was found that two officers and four men had been killed, besides many being injured. In most cases the poor fellows were blown to pieces. THE LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. Those killed are Lieutenants Hillyar and Uordon, Gunners Langford and D rwell, Seaman Hill, and a shipboy named Brown. The wounded are Midshipmen Lambert, Champian, and Moo:'e, Artillerymen Healey, Armitage, Berber, and Coomber, Seamen Luks, Kiugie, Lee, Dickei, and Gullick. The gun was examined before the vessel left Sydnny, and pronounced fit for service,

The gun which burst was a six-inch breach-loading Armstrong, and the uianne,r in which the gun was broken into small pieces lik? cast iron or glass gives one the idea that it burst by an enormous charge of some nitrous compound. The midshipmen had a marvellous escape from death. The lad Brown was sitting on the steps ol the galley watching the proceedings when apiece of'iron killed him. Lieutenant Hillyar, who w.13 standing (o the right of the gun, was aiso struck by a block of iron and killed instantaneously. Li-utenant Gordon, who wis nearer the gun, lived for a few minutes after the accident, Sydney, July ?. The accident on board the Cordelia has created a painful sensation here. The founded men are in ihc hospital —°r«l nf f hem are in a critical ana sd.J ° -• „. condition, especially lung.*.. The gun had only been used for L'UU rounds, and it was guaranteed for 2000. : THE EXPLOSION

cannot in any way be accounted for. A report of the accident and the remains of the gun will be sent Home, where a naval enquiry will be held. The appearance of the Cordelia's upper deck is almost such as it would be after a sharp engagement. On the port side, where the gun was fixed, the remains of the gun, which consist of soma 29 pieces of iron, still lie. hear at hand is the broken gun carriage

ALL DISORGANI : ED AND SHAITEBED. All over the ship's deck arc marks an 1

dents showing tlip great force with

which the fragments weie hurled about and the marvel is that many more of the ciew were not killed or hurt. Some oi the cabin doors we.ie smashed and O'.hi'i's shak-n clean off their hinges. Tin; topgallant bulwark was broken and battered, and everyl where great dents are. to be seen.

THE MACHINERY WAS SO CHOKED with fragmens of glass and iron that work was at a standstill for some little time aftir the explosion.