Terrible Disasters

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 121, 4 April 1891, Page 2

Terrible Disasters

FOUR MEN BLOWN TO PIECES. (PEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION). Sydney, April 2. A terrible disaster occurred this even • ing near Middle Head, to a detachment from the Torpedo Corps and Sappers. It appears that a detachment — consisting of Lieutenants Hammond and Bedford, Corporal McKee, and Buglar Bennett, of the Sappers ; and Brentall, "Wailes, Adams, Borland, Blackman, Ttllly, King, Grant. Bowater, and Bolin — proceeded in a cutter to lay two mines, intending to fire the first before laying the second. . The first mine, which contained lOOlbs of gun cotton, was successfully laid, and the boat hauled off to prepare to fire it, when by some means the free ends of the wire attached to the second mine, consisting of 501bs of gun cotton, which were hanging over the side of the boat, got connected with the electric machine. The result was a terrible explosion , and a huge, column of blackish water/ in which were! seen fragments of the "boat and of the unfortunate.men. . - , I A relief party was at once sent out, and' it was found that four of the men had been literally blown to shreds ; all that w&b remaining of them being small particles of flesh. All the others were -badly injured, and on being rescued were sent' to Sydney Hospital. The mines were being fired in the presence of a large number of the public* and among the horrified spectators were his Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Jersey; and family, and the wife of Lieutenant Hammond. It is believed that Mrs Hammond's blind haß become deranged owing to the accident.