BLASTING ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1940, 23 November 1906, Page 3

BLASTING ACCIDENT.

NABBOW ESCAPE FBQM FATALITY. ' ' ess-tfsa A young man, William Bourke, who has been working in the kfotu- district for some months, met with a very painful mishap on Wednesday morning, and also had a very narrow escape for his life. He had been employed by Mr Hutchinson, of Waihuka, splitting posts and rails at Eakauroa, and was working with a mato at the time. Bourke had put in powder for a blast, and had left a little powder bag half full of powder lying near by. He lighted the fuse, but as it did not fizz in the usual way, he supposed that it was not lighted, and still kept the match to the fuse Unexpectedly thcro came an explosion, the charge shooting back, This knocked Bourke down, and as he roso again, the powder left in the bag was ignited and a second explosion occurred, Bourlto being again knocked down and his clothes set on fire. His mate quickly rushed to the rescue and rolled him into

the river, thus promptly quenching the burning clothes. The sufferer was badly burnt about the arms, head, and face, but fortunately his eye 3 escaped injury. Ho was brought into town, the latter part of the journey by train, and his wounds attended to by Dr. Collins. Naturally the injury is causing him much pain, but ho is now doing well. 1 The case is of espocial interest to those who engage in blasting work. Mr Bourke is a man of experience in that line, and was deceived by the non-fizzing of tho fuse. His experience should be a warning to others.