FATAL EXPLOSION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2407, 22 December 1881, Page 3

FATAL EXPLOSION.

[PBKBB ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 21. A dreadful accident occurred at Lambton Quay this evening at 7.15. A loud explosion was beard, and it was discovered that some blue fire composition in the rear of Messrs Barraud and Sons’ chemist’s shop had exploded. Mrs Anthony, the wife of the manager of the business, who was in the yard with her little boy three years old, received terrible injuries, both hands being blown off close below the elbow, her right leg broken, her jaw broken, besides her face fearfully out and gashed. She was taken inside and medical aid obtained. The several injuries were attended to, after which the poor sufferer was taken to the hospital, where she died at nine o’clock. The child fortunately escaped with a lew slight bruises. Mr Anthony and others in the shop are at a loss to account for tho explosion. They had been making bine fire composition during the forenoon, and found it to bo dangerous, as some of it exploded, and singed the hair of an assistant. About half a pound of the mixture was left in a mortar, and Mrs Anthony had suggested that the best means of getting rid of it would be to wash out tho mortar with water, and it is thought by many that she was in the act of doing this when the explosion occurred. The report was heard fully half a mile away. The mortar was shattered to atoms, fragments being found at a distance of 100 yards. The affair caused great excitement in town, and great sympathy is expressed for Mr Anthony. [FBOM THE OWN COEBBSPONDENT OP THB “ PRESS.”] A shocking occurrence took place this evening, by which a lady was literally blown to pieces and a building partially wrecked. The facts are as follows:—At the shop of Mr Barraud, chemist, Lambton Quay, some blue fire was in course of preparation for use at the theatre. On testing a small portion of the mixture it was found dangerously explosive, too much chlorate of potash having been inadvertently used in the composition. Accordingly Mr Barraud’s assistant, Mr Anthony (formerly of Christchurch) took it out in the back yard and began to destroy it by glow combustion. Ho had occasion to leave for an instant, and before he oould return his wife happened to go into the yard, and seeing the chemicals on fire, at once threw a bucket of water on the burning mass, A terrific explosion immediately took place, which shook tho whole city, and was heard at a distance of some miles. Poor Mrs Anthony received the full force of the shook, and was frightfully mutilated. Both arms were torn off, also one leg, the lower jaw.fand the scalp. All the windows in the vicinity were smashed, and other damage done. The stone mortar in which the composition had been mixed was hurled many feet into the air, and flung clear over the tops of the houses into the next street. Fortunately nobody else was injured. Tho dreadful occurrence created a profound sensation in the city.