Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-08
SCORES FIGHT FOR
LIFE ON DECKS Of
BLAZING STEAMER
Fire Follows Two Explosions on
Liner Causing Panic Among
800 Passengers
ONLY ONE LIFE SACRIFICED
Terror-StriCken Souls, Beaten
Back by Crew, Taken Off
by Other Vessels
. OVER. England, April An ex-
plosion early this morning on the

n OVER. England, April 7.-An ex-
plosion early this morning on the
~ British steamer Cairnrona, off
Dungeness, wrecked the women's quar-
ters, killing 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 allow the
women to be taken off first.
A large number of passengers were
landed here this evening, many Of them
in an exhausted condition. In all,
twenty were seriously injured and not
fewer than fifty were slightly injured by
the explosion and panic that followed.
The Cairnrona, badly damaged, ar
rived at o'clock tonight.
The Cairnrona sailed yesterday from
London for Portland, Me. She carried
800 passengers, for the most part en-
igrants, and a general cargo.
Fortunately the steamers Upland and
Kanawha were near when the Cairn-
roma caught fire. They stood by and
took off several hundred passengers
and landed them here. Several of the
first class passengers are American
cattlemen and gave thrilling details
of the incident.
A number of women with children in
their arms were sitting on hatch
when 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 fragments.
A terrific panic ensued, the emigrants,
mostly Russians, running up and down
screaming and wringing their hands.
Their terror was increased by the vol
umes of smoke that poured from the
burning hold. The captain and officers
made ineffective attempts to calm them
and the signals of distress were sent
up.
SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURS
In the meantime another explosion
occurred in the engine room, inJurlng
several of the engineers.
The Kanawha and Upland steamed
up quickly and the captain decided to
transfer all passengers. This was ac-
complished speedily, but was accompa-
MED by scandalous scenes.
Scores of the men tried to rush the
boats and many of them fought with
the women, tearing and dragging them
aside and even trampling them under
foot
The crew battled against the panic
stricken emigrants. using fists and feet
and any weapon they could find. Not
a few of the frantic mob of men were
felled before the hysterical women and
children could be gotten into the boats.
In the stampede four persons fell into
the sea and were rescued with diff
Guilty.
The Kanawha and Upland reached
Dover with the rescued passengers late
In the afternoon, and the scenes at the
dock were piteous.
Exhausted by cold and hunger, many
of them half famished and others suf-
fering with injuries, the passengers
were brought ashore and supplied with
food, clothing and medical attendance.
Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg.
the princess and British naval officers
lending assistance.
The naval surgeons attended the
wounded, many of whom were taken in
ambulances to the hospital.
The prince and princess of Batten-
berg had been giving dinner party,
but they broke it up and came ashore
with their guests to attend the wants
of the refugees.