Terrible Bomb Explosion.

Hastings Standard, Issue 433, 23 September 1897, Page 4

Terrible Bomb Explosion.

The mail steamer Polynesian, in command of Captain Bonisrd, arrived at Sydney from New Caledonia a few clays i'go, bringing particulars of a fi-i.-'litfuS accident.. It appears that on Sunday afternoon, the 15rh inst., a shocking accident occurred that cast quite a gloom over the town, and resulted in the death of three Europeans and one Kanaka. A party of nine persons left the wharf at the Artillery Barracks in a boat with the object of destroying a number of re-formed bombshells by dropping them into the .sea. These shells were loaded with melinite. Yv r hile in the act of throwing them overboard one of the bombs exploded, smashing the boats to atoms, killing four of the occupants and wounding the other members of the Captain Rougey, who had charge of the boat, was projected 30 feet in the air, but fortunately escaped without serious injury. The wounded were rescued by a boat that was in the vicinity of the accident, and were immediately taken to the penitentiary dep6t at the Presqulile Ducos, where their wounds were temporarily dressed. The unfortunate men were then taken to the military hospital, and by latest reports a.re progressing as favorably as possible. The victims who were fatally injured are: Jean Pallepon, chief pyrotechnist, aged 35, blofcn to pieces ; Charles Girard, chief pyrotechnist, aged 24, blown to pieces; Ivapou, boatman, native of Lifou, hardly a vestige left. The funeral was attended by a very large majority of the inhabitants. Government buildings, business places, and the shipping had their flags at half mast. The local newspapers appeared encircled by a deep black border. An inquest is to be held to ascertain upon whom the responsibility lies of the accident, which has caussd great consternation there. From La Caledonie reports of the occurrence, there were in the two boats Captain of Marine Rougey, Chief Artificer Phallepon, two other artificers, and a native. The second boat contained Commissiare Tassel, Captain Merlin, and three lieutenants, two of whom are killed, seven artillerymen, and a native. The two boats were divided a distance of 240 ft. The one with Captain Kougey in had the bombs. The boat was cut in two, and all the persons in it were projected into the air in all directions. The Chief Artificer Phallepon, Mr Girard, and Mr Capon, and also the native Kopou, a native of Lifou, were killed outright, the body of the chief artificer being cut into three pieces, and the only part saved was the trunk. As to the other three bodies, they were simply mangled, the bodies sinking at once. But the divers went down next day and recovered portions. Nearly all in the other boat were more or less injured, but the most remarkable thing is that Captain Kougey, who was in the other boat, has actually recovered after his extraordinary experience. It is a perfect miracle how the officer escaped, for he was sitting between two of the men in the boat who were blown to pieces. Commissiare Tassel, though injured, bravely went to Captain Rougey's help in the water when he saw that officer descend after the explosion, and it is more than likely Lut that for his assistance the capttin would have sunk, stunnedas he was. The boat that escaped was rolled over in the water several times by the force of the atmospheric commotion.