HC Deb 15 March 1899 vol 68 cc916-7
*MR. ALLAN (Gateshead)

I beg to ask the honourable Gentleman the Secretary to the Admiralty a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he can state the extent of the loss of life that has occurred on board H.M.S. "Terrible," in consequence of an explosion in her water-tube boilers, and whether he can give any information as to the injuries to the firemen, and also as to why so much reti- cence has been displayed in giving information to the public.

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.

The only telegram that we have received is one we have received from the Commander-in-Chief at Devonport this morning, stating that on her arrival at Devon-port the "Terrible" reported that a tube in one of her boilers had burst, the consequence of which was that one stoker was killed.

*MR. ALLAN

How many were scalded?

MR. MACARTNEY

There are no particulars in the telegram beyond what I have stated. The ship has proceeded to Portsmouth, or I should have caused inquiries to be made.