TERRIBLE EXPLOSION ON H.M.S. CORDELIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2962, 9 July 1891, Page 3

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION ON H.M.S. CORDELIA.

(CY ELECTRIC TELEGKAFH.—COPYRIGHT). Sydnky, July (i. H.M.S. Cokdelm, which has been cruising in Fijian waters, with Sir J. B. Thureton, returned to port this afternoon. Captain Grenfell reports that a terrible explosion took place on board on the 20th .June, when tho vessel was between Fiji and Noumea, Gun practice, which the vessel hud been engaged in, was just concluding, and aa tho seventh shot, with a full charge .nitidis up with common shell, was about to be fired, the fearful calamity occurred. A scene of indescribablo horror ensued, the bodies of a number of the crew being strewn about tlio deck. Captain Grenfoll states he was standing on the port side watching the men engaged at the gun when the explosion took place. The air was tilled with fragnißiits of metal, and pieces of the ahattcfjd gun went as high as t'.ie foretopgallant lift and royal sheet, both of which were shot away. Tlio breech block of the gun was carried right across the deck, crashing through the fixtures in its track. A piece of iron tore through tho funnel and damaged the gear. Xearly overy part of tho outside trunnions went overboarJ. The right trunnion went torward and the left aft, striking t.iie poop and falling on the quarter deck. Tho explosion burst through the upper deck, and what wan known as the left bracket of the gun carriage was blown down on the main deck, soverelg injuring two ii'en. The whole fore of the explosion seam to have been on bonrd. As soon as the wreckage was cleared away, it was found that two officers and four men were killed, besides many injured. In most cases the poor fellows hud buen blown to pieces. Those killed are :— Lieutenants Hillyar and Gordon. Gunnott Langfordand Darwell. Seaman Hill and boy Brown. The wounded are :—Midshipmen Lambert, Champian, and Mooie. Artillerymen Healey. Aimitage, Barber, Coomber. Seamen Luk.", Kingie, Lee, Dicker, and Gullick. The gun was examitied before the vesssel left Sydney, and pronounced fit for action. Latek. The gun which burst was a six-inch breech-loading Armstrong, and from the manner in which the gun was broken into small pieces, like cast-iron or glass, it gives ono the iUe.i ns if burst by an enormous charge, of some nitrous compouud. The midshipmen had a marvellous oscapo. Tho lad .Brown was .sitting on the stops of the galley, watching the proceedings, when a piece of iron killed him. Lieutenant Hillyar, w'.io was standing to the right of the gun, was also struck by a block of iron, and killed instantaneously. Lieutenant Gordon, who was nearer the gun, lived for a few minutes after the accident. July 7. The accident on board H.M.s Cordelia has created a painful sensation here. The wounded men are in the Hospital, and several of them are in a critical condition, especially Kingre. Tho gun had only been used for 200 rounds, and it was guaranteed for 2000. The explosion cannot iu any way be accounted for. A report on the accident and the remains of the gun will be sent home where au inquiry 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, which consist of some twenty-nine pieces of iron near at hand, is the broken gun carriage, all disorganised and shattered. All over the ship's deck are marks and dents showing the great force with which the fragments were hurled about, and the marvel is that many more were not killed and hurt. Some of the cabin doors were smashed, and others shaken clean off their hinges. The topgallant bulwark was broken and battered, and everywhere great dents are to be seen. The machinery was so choked with fragments of glass and iron that work was at a standstill for some little time after the explosion. In announcing to the House of Commons the terrible explosion on H. M.S. Cordelia, Lord G. 1 ,, . Hamilton, first Lord of the Admiralty greatly deplored the sad accident. His Lordship mentioned that the report of the inquiry into the gun accident in Sydney had been referred to the Ordnauco Committee, Jjly 8. Her Majesty cabled to Admiral Lord Chas. Scott that she was deeply distressed to hear of the accident on board H.M.S. Cordelia. .