Message:20780 In: TODAY.WW
From: KF5JRVDate: Tue, 14 Apr 26 08:47:00 Z
Newsgroups: TODAY.WW
Subject: Today in History - Apr 14
Message-ID: <24261_KF5JRV>
Path: N2NOV|VE2PKT|NS2B|KF5JRV
R:260414/0851z @:N2NOV.#RICH.NY.USA.NOAM $:24261_KF5JRV
R:260414/0851Z 5274@VE2PKT.#TRV.QC.CAN.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.25
R:260414/0848Z 49124@NS2B.#WNY.NY.USA.NOAM BPQ6.0.25
R:260414/0847Z 24261@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.24
The cargo ship Fort Stikine explodes in a berth in the docks of Bombay, India (now known as Mumbai), killing 1,300 people and i
njuring another 3,000 on April 14, 1944. As it occurred during World War II, some initially claimed that the massive explosion
was caused by Japanese sabotage; in fact, it was a tragic accident.
The Fort Stikine was a Canadian-built steamship weighing 8,000 tons. It left Birkenhead, England, on February 24 and stopped in
Karachi, Pakistan, before docking at Bombay. The ship was carrying hundreds of cotton bales, gold bullion and, most notably, 3
00 tons of trinitrotoluene, better known as TNT or dynamite. Inexplicably, the cotton was stored one level below the dynamite,
despite the well-known fact that cotton bales were prone to combustion.
In the middle of loading, smoke was seen coming from the cotton bales and firefighters were sent to investigate. However, emerg
ency measures, such as flooding that part of the ship, were not taken. Instead, about 60 firefighters tried to put out the fire
with hoses throughout the afternoon. Unfortunately, the TNT was not unloaded during the firefighting efforts.
Eventually, the firefighters were ordered off the ship but kept dousing the fire from the docks. Their efforts were in vain; th
e TNT was ignited, and at 4:07 p.m., the resulting explosion rocked the bay area. The force of the blast actually lifted a near
by 4,000-ton ship from the bay onto land. Windows a mile away were shattered. A 28-pound gold bar from the Fort Stikine, worth
many thousands of dollars, was found a mile away. Everyone in close vicinity of the ship was killed.
Twelve other ships at the docks were destroyed and many more were seriously damaged. Fires broke out all over the port, causing
further explosions. Military troops were brought in to fight the raging fires and some buildings were demolished to stop it fr
om spreading. The main business center of Bombay was not safe for three days after the explosion.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email KF5JRV@gmail.com
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