CATASTROPHE IN QUEEN STREET MELBOURNE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1732, 21 February 1874, Page 4

CATASTROPHE IN QUEEN STREET MELBOURNE.

FATAL EXPLOSION OF NITRO-CXYCERINE. A terrible explosion, resulting in th« death of one man and the infliction of serious injuries on another, both wellknown colonists and Melbourne business men, occurred at about 10 o'clock yesterday morning ; and the mystery attaching to the affair tends to favor a wide-spread supposition that some malicious person purposely left an infernal machiue to injure, if not destroy, the unfortunate person who was killed. The explosion occurred in the office of Mr Maxwell Reynolds, sole ,agent for Nobel's giant powder, and in the presence of Mr Reynolds and of Mr Adam English. These gentlemen were formerly for long known all over Victoria as the great carrying firm of Reynolds and English. The office is situated at 35 Queen street, near the corner of Collins street, on tbe west side, and was on the top or third storey of a high buildiug, occupied underneath by the Australian Provident Society. From what could be gathered in the hospital Mr English, who was least injured, and from general statements, it appears that Mr English entered the place first, just before 10, and saw in the passage, into which the office opened, a small box, addressed to "Mr Maxwell Reynolds." As he knew Mr Reynolds would be in directly he did not touch it. In a few minutes Mr Reynolds came in, and the box was taken inside. It was a small box of white wood, described as like a fig box. On the lid was a lump of clay, " the size of your hand," as English said, and from this it was concluded that the box contained a sample of pottery clay, because Mr Reynolds was about opening a pottery, and had entered into negotiations. The lid was held by only one nail or screw (probably a screw, as r.ne was afterwards found in the room), and Mr Reynolds began to turn the lid round and round on the screw, intending to loosen it. As Reynolds turned it round, English "just noticed a half gill bottle in the box, a blue bottle sic'i as chemists use, and then it exploded, ar d knocked me into the fireplace." In reply to inquiries, English said he had no time to note anything, " except that the bottle contained fluid. The moment he saw the bottle the explosion occurred, and he was rendered senseless. He did not know why anyone should have endeavored to destroy Mr Reynolds or himself, because he was not much in town, and did not knew much of Mr Reynold's business ; but his opinion was that " some malicious person" sent nitro-glycerine there with evil intent. The explosion was terrific, and the noise was heard a long way off. Mr G. Walstab, auctioneer, who had not long parted from Reynolds, having come up in the train with him from Brighton, ran over and the police were sent for. It was found that both men were insensible, Reynolds bleeding, and both were conveyed to the Hospital. Bits of Mr Reynold s's clothes, his watch, and some bits of flesh were scattered about the room, along with a large quantity of small splinters of white wood. This was all that remained of the box, and there was no sign of the bottle. The explosion forced out the three windows, the glass of which was shivered on the pavement below. A sum of L 4 in notes was found in one of the trousers pockets of Reynolds. The pocket had been blown bodily out of the trousers. On the men's arrival at the hosipital it was found that Reynolds was shockingly mangled, and that English's injuries were comparatively slight though bad enough. The explosion must have occurred as Reynolds was stooping over the box, so that he received nearly its whole force. There was a deep lacerated wound in the abdomen, believed to penetrate the bowels, and measuring some three inches across, Both wrists were shattered. The leit arm was terribly torn, the principal artery being severed. There was a large wound on the left thigh, which «ras filled with splinters of wood, and both eyes were hurt. Tn fact, he was a mass of wounds and bruises. English had both eyes and the Ibft ear injured. His face was cut, and he had bad contused wounds on both legs and both arms. Large numbers of splinters of white wood had been forced through English's left ear, and had to be drawn out. During the day Reynolds, who could scarcely speak, but had his senses well about him, said he would like to make his will, and Mr Walstab drew it up. It was read over to him, and he acquiesced and touched the pen, being unable to write from tha injuries he had received. His "mark" was witnessed by Mr Williams, secretary of the hospital, and Mr T. H. Nott, of Swanston street, a very old friend of Reynolds's. "We believe he left all his property to his wife in the will. After this he sank rapidly, experiencing great agony, and died at a quarter to three in the afternoon.

Quartz-mining at Skippers is in a state of statu quo, with the exception of Southberg and company, who are mining on a supposed "slip," and getting payable Btone. Nothing else is doing save the rusting of machinery and decay of buildings, which has transformed what once was a living scene into a melancholy picture of desolation.