TERRIFIC DYNAMITE EXPLOSION NEAR INVERCARGILL.— TWO MEN WOUNDED.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3719, 16 June 1883, Page 3

TERRIFIC DYNAMITE EXPLOSION NEAR INVERCARGILL.— TWO MEN WOUNDED.

Inveeoaewll, This day

The blacksmith's shops at the Green Hills used in connection with Mr W. Conyer's quarry was yesterday the .scene of an incident of a startling character. The facts are as follows: —Dynamite is now very largely employed in the work of quarrying, and before being - \ised has to undergo a softening , process. To effect this the usual practice is to place the explosive in a tin, and then put that in a large vessel containing hot water. On Thursday night tho foreman in charge of the works did this with a number of cartridges sufficient for a large shot. On Friday morning, knowing that a fire would not be required in the forge that day, the foreman, on going to work, left a can containing the dynamite on the hearth. At midday the men went to dinner, and one of them took advantage of the interval to go to the forge in order to do a job for himself. For this purpose he lighted the fire, having first put the can with the dynamite on one side. After he had finished he says he extinguished the fire and returned the can to the hearth, it being necessary that it should be kept warm. In a brief space, and before tho man left the building, a terrific explosion occurred, the place literally being blown to shreds, bits of its frame work being scut a distance of one hundred yards, whilo houses a quarter of a mile away wcrcslmkcn. Singular to say the occupant of the shop escaped ■\\ itliout a scratch, but a young man named James Mcllardy, who was standing at the door, was struck by some of the splinter.-!, and received several cuts about his head and face, from which blood came freely. A man named Haberfield, who was standing outside, also received a scalp wouud, but not so serious as to require medical treatment. MoHardy was brought to town by train and taken to the hospital, where his injuries were dressed. He is now doing well. At the time tho explosion occurred the foreman was at dinner, and was quite unaware of the doings of his subordinate. Mr Conyers, finding that there arc specially constructed vessels for preparing dynamite for use, has obtained and forwarded them to the quarry.