The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-08
One Child Is Killed and
Many Persons Injured
By Flying Timbers
MEN FIGHT FOR BOATS
LIKE WILD ANIMALS
The Mad Rush But the Damage
Il Not Great and steamer
VIII Resume Trip

Dover, England April IA terrific ex.
plosion occurred early this morning on tht
British steamer Cairnrona, off Dungeness,
which wrecked the women's quarters, killa
ing one child and injuring a number OF
women and children. The steamer caught
fire and a panic ensued in which men
fought for the possession of the boats and
had to be beaten back by the crew to al.
low the women to be taken off first.
A large number of passengers were
landed here this afternoon, many of them
in an exhausted condition. In all % were
seriously injured and not less than 81
were slightly, injured by the explosion and
in the panic that followed it.
The vessel sailed yesterday from Lon-
don for Portland, Me. She carried 800 pas
sengers, for the most part emigrants. and
general cargo.
Fortunately the steamers Upland and
kanawha were close at hand when tho
Cairnrona caught fire. They stood by
and took off several hundred passengers
and landed them here.
Several of the first-class passengers and
American cattlemen gave thrilling details
of the accident.
A number of women with children in
their arms were sitting on a hatch when
suddenly a violent explosion hurled them
to all parts of the deck. Some of them
were shockingly injured and one child was
killed. The hatch was blown to frag-
ments.
A terrible panic ensued. the emlgrants,
mostly Russians. running up and down
m ina md ri raur t,otr
Their terror was increased by the volume
of smoke which poured from the burning
| hold The captain and officers made in
effectual efforts to calm them and then
signals of distress were sent up. In the
meantime another explosion occurred In
the engine room injuring several engi-
| neers.
The Kanawha and Upland steamed I'm
quickly and the captain decided to trans
Ter all the passengers. This was ae-
comp1ished speedily but was accompanied
| by scandalous scenes. Scores of the men
tried to rush the boats and many of them
fought with the women, tearing and drag
ging them aside and even trampling them
under foot. The crew battled valiantly
aganst the panic-strieken emigrants us
ing fists and feet and any weapon they
could find. Not a few OF the frantic
mob of men we're feled to the deck bc<ore
the hysterical, fainting women and chill
uren could be gotten into the boats. In
thestampede four persons fell or were
pushed into the sea and were rescued with
difficulty.
The captain of the Cairnrona reports
hat an explosion in the starboard bum
kers wrecked the women's quarters. This
was followed by several minor explosions
Until o'clock in the afternoon water was
pumped into the bunkers and the vessel
proceeded, reaching here at o'clock
tonight.
Though 1t is believed that the fire has
been extinguished the steamer will re-
main until morning in order to be sure
| that she can proceed in safety.
The Kanawha and Upland reached Do
yer with the rescued passengers late in
the afternoon and the scenes at the land
| ing were piteous. Exhausted by cold and
exposure, many of them half famished
and others suffering from injuries, they
were brought ashore and supplied with
food. clothing and medical attendance.
Admiral Prince Louis of Battenburg and
the princess with the British naval Of
ficers lending assistance, the naval sur
geons attended the wounded. mank of
whom were removed in ambulances to
the hospitals
The Prince and Princess of Batterburg
had been giving dinner party. but they
| broke II up and came ashore with their
guests to attend to the wants of the
refugees.
The Cairnronas captain is endeavoring
to persuade those of his passengers re-
naming here to re-embark on his steamer.
Several hundred of them took the train
for London tonight