EXPLOSION IN A TRAIN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 7

EXPLOSION IN A TRAIN

PARCEL OF BLASTING POWDER DETONATED SIX PASSENGERS SEVERELY INJURED . By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, December G. A sensational accident, resulting iu injury to six persons, occurred on the Gisborne Railway Ration to-day just before the 4.5 p.m. train for Jlotuhora was due to depart. The train was standing at the platform with, a large number ot passengers on board and about the platform, when a loud report startled everyone,in tho vicinity, and a burst of flamo and\ smoko was seen to come from a carriage standing directly opposite tho door of the stationnmster's office. There were five; occupants of the carriage, a, socond-class smote, and all received burns about the face, limbs, and body, wltile a-, woman who was standing on the platform of the carnage next to tho one in which tho explosion oconrred also received burns to her face, limbs and -body. The force, of the explosion blew out the glass m tho doof of the carriage and struck her with con-, siderable force. Those injured were John Tolholff (Jfangapana), Thomas Burns (Bakauroa), Thomas Kearns (Eakauroa). A. D- Tnwhl (Kuatokil. James Teenu (Otoko), . Mis Lena Hill (Otoko). / Medical assistance was summoned; Two doctors bandaged the patients and prepared them for removal to the hospital. All are suffering from shock and burns. In some cases the flames burned the skin off and singed and burned clothes and hair. Inquiries at the hosnital to-nteht show that no serious results are anticipated. : There, was a considerable amount of speculation concerning! the cause of the explosion. It was discovered that it was due to a parcel of blasting powder.under the carriage seat becoming ignited. The owner of the parcel has not yet been located. ... , t , One of the (patients informed the police that he saw a brown paper parcel under the seat* The parcel was burning, and lie put his foot on it to extinguish the flames. By so doing he apparently detonated the. paokage, which contained blasting powder, and the explosion 'occurred. . The report was a very loud one, the explosion blowing out the glans .in the door with a crash and bndly scorching the interior of the carriagu. Being in a smoking carriage, the package could easily have, been set on fire by a. match dropped on to tho floor in the vicinity of the parcel. One passenger had an exceedingly fortunate escape from injury. Ifo was just Sbout to step on to. the carriage, having sHc! gond-bve to a friend, when' the door blew .out. the force of tho explosion just misß : ng him. *■ .Tam-j Tpppu, a Maori, one of the'victims, had only been discharged from hospital this morning, and was going horno by the, train when tho accident necessitated his return to the institution. On the luggage raok in the same carriage where the explosion occurred was aaother package of blasting] powder, but. this was not involved in tho explosion.