Shortly before 10 o'clock in the evening of 18th April last, just as the s.s. Clanwood, of Sunderland, was leaving Hartlepool for Ghent, with a cargo of coal, a gas explosion occurred on board.

The weather was fine with a smooth sea and moderate W. breeze. The Motor Life-boat was at once sent out and stood by until the steamer was towed into dock. The Coxswain then sent for a doctor, as a man on board the Clanwood had been injured, and later the Life-boat brought the injured man ashore..