SERIOUS EXPLOSION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1104, 22 June 1883, Page 3

SERIOUS EXPLOSION.

A blacksmith's shop at the Green Hills, Invccirgd!, used in connection with William Conyer's quarry, was on June 15th the scone of an accident of a startling character. The facts are as follows Dynamite is now very largely employed in the work of quarrying, and before being used has to undergo a softening process. To effect this the usual pr dice is to place the explosive in a tin, and then to put that tin in a larger vessel containing hot water On Thursday night the toreman in charge of the works did this with a number of cartridges sufficient for a large “ shot ” on Friday morning. Knowing that a lire would not bo required iu the forge that day, the foreman, on going to work, left a can containing the dynamite on the hearth. At mid-day the men went to dinner, and one of them to.-k advantage of the interval to go to the forge in order to do a job for himself. For this purpose he lighted the (ire, having first put the can of dynamite on one side. After he had finished he says he extinguished the fire, and returned the can to the bean hj, it being necessary that it should he kept warm. In a brief space, before the man left the building, a terrific explosion occurred, the place being literally blown to shreds ; bits of its framework being sent a distance of one hundred yards, while the houses a quarter ef a mile were shaken. Singular to say, the occupant of the shop escaped without a scratch, hut a young man named James M'Hardy. who was standing at the door, was stuck by some of the splinters and received several cuts about the head and face, from which blood came freely. A man named Hahertield standing outside also received a scalp wound, but not so serious as to require medical treatment. M‘Hardy was brought to town by the train and was taken to the hospital, where his injuries were attended to. He is now doing well. At the time the expkaion occurred the foreman was at dinner and quite unaware of the doings of his subordinate. Mr Conyers, finding that there are speci-ally-constructed vessels for preparing dyna mite for use, has obtained one and forwarded it to the quarry.