There was a further tragic happening on Tuesday on the str. Eastern Sailor, which was damaged in a collision recently, this second accident resulting in the death of one man and serious injuries to 16 others, some of whom are not expected to recover. Since the collision the ship has been in the International Dock, undergoing re A gang of Chinese were at work in the forepeak about 2 p.m., using an oxy-acetylene flame on the ship's plates, when suddenly there was a terrific: explosion.
The assumption is that gases were formed by the ship's bitumen coating and that a low explosive mixture was fired by the oxyacetylene blowpipe. The compartment where the men were working is w very confined space, with only a small manhole opening into it, the next connexion being a narrow ladder to the deck above. One man sprang for the manhole, but was in such a weak state that he collapsed when only half through, blocking the exit for the others. The people above acted with promptitude and immediately telephoned for the Fire Brigade, so that Assistant Station Officer Puttergill and a detachment from the Yangtszepoo station across the river were soon alongside.
Mr. Puttergill and his men showed great gallantry and resource, for, though it was raging hot below and the place was full of suffocate ing fumes, the officer and Chinese firemen Nos. 48, 49, 76 and 139, three with gas-masks, whilst their Leader and the other only had handkerchiefs over their faces, immediately descended' into the forepeak. They found 20 men lying insensible and these they looped one at a time on to a rope lowered by the crew from above and so had them hauled into the open air. All the firemen suffered badly whilst at this work, one fainting and another being severely burned on the hands. The worst injures were on a man who had become wedged between the almost red hot plates in the bows.
Above, the crew speedily went to work on first aid methods, in which they were assisted by the other firemen, who have all _received training. Dr. €. Patrick, who had_ been summoned by the Dock staff, soon arrived and gave what treatment was possible on the spot. Meanwhile, the firemen had been constructing stretchers from doors, ladders and other material, on which they transferred the injured men to 2 Blue Fuanel launch and the casualties were then taken to the Shautung Road Hospital. Sixteen men, all either burned or gassed, were detained at the institution and it is reported that six of them are in a very serious condition. One man was dead when brought
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.