New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-08
EXPLOSION GN SHIP;
SEVENTY INJURED
One Child Killed in Accident
en- British Steamer
CaiTnr0na.
FIRE AND PANIC FOLLOW
Men Fighting for the Boats
Beaten Back by Crew
to Give Women
a Chance.

Dover England. April "A terrifc
explosion occurred early this morning ON
the British steamer Cairnrona. of Dun
gene s.. which wrecked the wOmen's
quarters. killing one child and injurins
a number Of women and children. Minor
explosions followed The steamer caught
fire and panic ensUed. in which men
fought for the possession Of the boats
and had to be beaten back by the crew
to allow th- women 70 be taken of first
A large number Of the passengers wers
landed here this evening. many Of them
in an exhausted condition. II all. twenty
were seriously Injured and not fewer
than fifty slightly injured by the explo-
sion or in the panic that followed il.
The Cairnrona sailed yesterday from
London for Portland. Ne. She carried
nine hundred passengers. for the most
part emigrants. and a general cargo.
By great good luck the steamers Up
land and Kanawha we're close at
hand when the Cairnrona caught fire.
They stood by and took or several hun
dred passengers and landed them here
Thrown All Over Deck.
Several Of the first class passengers
end American cattlemen give thrilling
details OF the accident. number OF
women with children IN their arms were
sitting on a hatchway cover. when sud-
denly a violent explosion hurled them TO
all parts of the deck. Some OF them
were shockingly injured and one child
vas killed The hatch was blown TO
fragments.
A terrible panic ensued. the emigrants,
mostly Russians. running up and down
screaming and wringing their hands
Their terror was increased by the
volumes of smoke which poured from
the burning hold. The captain and off,
GERS made Intellectual efforts TO calm
them. and then signals OF distress were
sent up In the mean time. another ex-
plosion occurred in the engine room. in
turing several of the engineers.
The Kanawha and the Upland steamed
up quickly. and the captain OF the Cairn-
roma decided to transfer all the pas
sengers. This was accomplished speed
lily. but was accompanied by scandalous
scenes Scores OF the men tried 10 rush
the boats. and many of them fought with
the women. tearing and dragging them
aside and even trampling them under
foot.
Crew Fights Struggling Men.
The crew battled valiantIy against the
paniCstricken emigrants. using fists and
feet any any weapon they could find. Not
few of the frantic mob of men were
felIed TO the deck before the hysterical.
fainting women and children could be
got into the boats In the stampede
four persons fell or were pushed into the
sea and were rescued with difficulty.
The captain Of the Cairnrona reports
an explosion in the starboard bunkers.
wrecking the wOmen's quarters. This
was followed by several minor explO-
sions. Until > o'clock in the afternoon
water was pumped into the bUnkers. and
the vessel put back. reaching this port
at O'Clock tonight
Although IL is believed that the fire
has been extingUished. the steamer will
remain here until the morning. in order
to be sure that she can proceed in
safety
Prince ard princess rep.
The Kanawha and Upland reached
Dover, with the rescued passengers. late
this afternoon. and the scenes at the
landing were pitifuL Exhausted by cold
and exposure. many of them half fam
ished and others suffered from injuries.
the passengers were brought ashore and
supplied with food. clothing and medical
Admiral Prince Louis OF
Battenburg and the princess. with the
British naval oeicers. lending assist
ance The naval surgeons attended he
wounded, many Of whom We're removed
in ambulances 20 the hospital The
Prince and Princes of Battenburg had
been giving a dinner party. but they
broke it up and came ashore. with their
guests. 20 attend tc the wants of the
refugees.
The CairnrOna's captain is endeavOr-
ing 20 persuade those Of MS passengers
70 naming here 70 re-cmbark on his
steamer. Several hundred Of then took