SERIOUS BLASTING ACCIDENT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1614, 23 April 1879, Page 3

SERIOUS BLASTING ACCIDENT.

[From the “ Sydney Morning Herald,” April sth.] A terrible quarry accident, the result of over-eagerness in returning to a blast in which the fuse was thought to have missed fire, occurred on Thursday evening at Five Dock. The quarry in which the accident took place is situated on the North road, Five Dock, just opposite the post office, and is the property of Mr Thomas West, the mayor of the suburb, and the owner of several quarries in the neighborhood. The accident occurred about 5 p.m. A hole had been bored at the foot of the quarry and a charge inserted, and after the fuse had been lighted, the workmen, together with Mr West, who was in the quarry at the time, retired to a safe distance to await the explosion. This, however, was delayed from some cause or another', and thinking that the fuse had missed fire, Mr West, accompanied by a workman named Thomas Gray, went forward to examine the hole. As Mr West reached the spot, and bent forward, the blast went off, and with terrible results. Mr West was hurled backward several paces, and flung to the ground, as was Gray. The latter escaped with comparatively slight injuries and burns to his face; but with the unfortunate owner of the quarry the case was far different. Mr West’s right eye was blown completely out of his head, his right hand was blown off, and the whole of his face and head was fearfully burnt and injured. Dr Haylock was fortunately passing the quarry at the time of the accident, and he at once gave all the assistance in his power. The chief sufferer was conveyed to his own residence, and there the remains of his right hand were amputated by Dr Haylock, assisted by Drs Scales and Jones. Besides the loss of his right eye, Mr West was found to have sustained serious injuries to the loft one, and grave fears are entertained for the sight of that one also. Although by no means so badly hurt “as his employer, the man Gray has received injuries to his face and one of his eyes, and he has been taken to the Infirmary, whore he is doing well, and will probably bo about again before very long.