Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 27, 1969, Winnipeg, Manitoba 12 Winnipeg free press monday october 27. 1969 probing blasts on ship Plymouth England up Canadian Navy Board of in Quiry saturday began hearings to determine the cause of two explosions and a fire which killed eight men and injured 44 others aboard the destroyer escort Koo Toay the Canadian warship limped into this Southwest England port saturday under Tow and with much of its Interior badly dam aged by the fire. Eight coffins draped with Maple flags were carried ashore from the vessel. Tour of the dead were to be buried at sea and the others at a Commonwealth cemetery near Aldershot 150 mites North East of Here. Many of the 44 casualties were men suffering minor injuries As a result of the explosions but others were badly Hurt. In Halifax a Canadian forces spokes Man said that relatives of All men injured in any Way following the explosion now have been notified. He said that next of Kin had been told the extent of injury and All relevant details Avail Able. Next of in of the 225 men aboard the Kootenay who had not received any word from the armed forces could assume that their relatives on the ship were not injured the spokesman said. After the gruelling trip to ply Mouth was completed Victoria born cmdr. Neil Norton skipper of the Kootenay praised the Way his Crew reacted to the violent blast which burst through a Gearbox in the ship s engine room thursday. In a few seconds the ship filled with cmdr. Nor ton told a Post Midnight news conference. There was a Flash out of the engine room and into the men s it was breakfast time for members of the Crew coming off the morning watch As the ship bruised about 200 Miles West of Plymouth. The explosion spattered the engine room with hot Oil which caught fire apparently from electrical wiring and sent smoke and flame through the Kootenay. The Crew reacted beyond anyone s the 42 year old cmdr. Norton said. They were the first explosion came at . On the ship s clocks and the men aboard the Kootenay thought by noon that they had the resulting fire under con but at 3 . A further blast burst upon them this one believed by officers to have been caused by electrical arcing. The second explosion caused no serious casualties. The eight dead were killed immediately by the initial blast. Cmdr. Norton said that after the initial engine room flare up the ship was in danger. It might have been lost he added had it not been for a rapid helicopter Airlift of fire fighting equipment from the Ca Nadian aircraft Carrier Bona venture and other Canadian ves Sels on the scene. The commander said mat m starboard engine to which the ill fated Gearbox was attached was disabled by the blast. The ship s steering also was put out of commission but the Kootenay kept going on her port engine for about 40 minutes cmdr. Norton said. N we were going at random he went on. The wheelhouse was filled with smoke and had to be first reports said seven men were killed in the explosion and one was missing. _ officers saturday explained that it was hard to get into the engine room far a considerable Tine after the blast with lower the room particularly inaccessible. Several hours went by before the search could be pressed for the bodies of All those who had died immediately. First figures for the number of injured also were far Short of the 44 listed today. The explanation Given to re porters was that a number of cases of Shock and exhaustion did not show up until Friday. Some casualties were cases smoke inhalation. The initial explosion came As the 10-year-old vessel built in British Columbia was holding a Power trial. Cmdr. William Walton in charge of the Kootenay s first escort Squadron said the ship was working up to full Power at the time and that it had frequently done this before. What caused the explosion a i am afraid a subject for a Board of cmdr. Wal Board which he gins Tang evidence behind dosed doors saturday was set Ottawa naval headquarter and is headed by capt. C. G. Pratt of High Kiver alta., Eom Mander of the 5th Canadian escort Squadron. Pending the inquiry s results the other ships in the Kootenay s Squadron were ordered to keep speeds Down to 26 Toots two less than the Speed registered by the now stricken vessel when the explosion occurred. Halloween pumpkins jumbo pumpkin of . Nylene with Black Handl. An easy and neat a your o Safe to Cost mrs w 7.58 ass us s melt m h children pm. W 16 of. Poly bag halloween kisses size Delight a to offer your ghostly guests. Only Leaf pumpkin gum gum shaped like tiny pumpkins. 72 to pack. Now " 110 pack your own treats a tempt Lna assortment to offer your it a guests. Now of treat yourself shop at gambles and save assorted cello bag treats choose from pumpkins ghosts party mix or As sorted Rolls. Only 9v Leeds 101 treats a real tasty treat. As sorted delicious flavors. 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