The cargo steamer ‘Ayuthia’, 694 tons (Captain Hewell), caught fire and blew up early this morning [February 7] in the Rangoon river where she was loading petrol for Calcutta and Bombay. The fire was discovered shortly after mid-night when the Captain was awakened by great heat in his cabin. He rushed out in pyjamas..., but the ship had already become a raging furnace. He with the other officers and crew jumped overboard having no time to save the effects. Several of the crew were removed to hospital suffering from burns. The explosion blew out the sides of the vessel and caused injuries to Mr. Leslie and Mr. Peters, Engineers, who are now in hospital suffering from shock. The ship sank later in the morning. There is no suspicion of foulplay. The ship which carried a complement of 44 and had recently been purchased by the Burma Oil Company from the Bengal Assam Steamship Company for 70,000 pounds, was about to start on the maiden voyage for her new owners.
