FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE DEBORAH BAY TUNNEL, OTAGO.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 81, 3 September 1874, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE DEBORAH BAY TUNNEL, OTAGO.

The Guardian of the 29th ult, gives the following particulars of the accidental the Deborah Bay tunnel, by which one man was killed and two injured:—A painful sensation was created in town yesterday by the intelligence that an accident had occurred at Deborah Bay tunnel workings, resulting in the instantaneous death of one man, and injuries more or less severe to two others. It appears that the composition known as lithofracteur is largely employed for explosive purposes! n the prosecution of the work. This preparation consists of a large per centage of nitro-gly-cerine, and is done up into cartridges of about three ounces each, resembling in appearance a compound of gunpowder mixed with soft earth. After being packed in canisters for a length of time its explosive qualities become to some extent impaired. To restore these it is necessary the substance should undergo a process of heating. To do this with safety, a pot, enclosed inside a larger vessel filled with hot water, similar to that used by carpenters for melting glue, is made use of. With a view to extra precaution, the heating process is generally performed away altogether from any fire. Unfortunately, on this occasion the latter

precaution was dispensed with. Deceased, whose name is John Renshaw, employed as a foreman at the works, being yesterday morning rather pushed for time, deposited three cartridges in the pot, and then proceeded to heat tlmm by holding it over a fire belonging to the smith’s forge. Either the water in. the vessel became exhausted, and the heat communicated from below ignited the cartridges, or, what is equally probable, a spark from the furnace may have got blown in amongst the material. In all probability, the real cause will never be exactly known, but, whatever it was, Ihe explosion occurred without the slightest premonition of any kind, and, being sudden, those in the vicinity were for the moment paralysed. On recovering, a frightful spectacle presented itself to them. The body of the deceased man was fearfully shattered, being completely disembowelled, and one side of his head blown away altogether, the various fragments lying scattered about in different directions. The other two sufferers, named respectively John Sims and Alexander Simpson, were standingjat some distance from the forge, and at first it was supposed they were seriously if not fatally injured. No time was therefore lost in getting them conveyed to Dunedin, where they arrived by the midday train. On being examined at the hospital, it was found that, although badly bruised, one of them having received no fewer than nineteen wounds on the lower part of the body, none of them were any worse than mere flesh wounds, and the ultimate recovery of both men is confidently expected. So far as we have ascertained, the contractors, Messrs McKenzie Brothers, are in no way to blame for this sad affair. We arc not aware what special instructions they may have given with respect to the preparation of the lithofracteur, but the fact is known that, in carrying out the contract for the Caversham tunnel, their instructions were very stringent, and although many tons of blasting powder were used, not the slightest accident to either person or property occurred. Still wc trust that a searching enquiry will be instituted into the whole circumstances of the affair, as much with the view of putting the public at large on their guard regarding the dangerous qualities of this compound as for the purpose of ascertaining with whom any criminal negligence may rest. The compound is, we are informed, largely employed, not only in prosecuting public works, but also by the miners, at such places as the Blue Spur, Gabriel’s Gully, where blasting operations have for years past been largely resorted to. The same journal of the 31st says:—We learn that the two men, Simpson and Sims, who wore injured by the explosion of dynamite at the Deborah Bay tunnel, are progressing favorably, and confident hopes are entertained of their recovery.