SERIOUS EXPLOSIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6496, 22 December 1881, Page 5

SERIOUS EXPLOSIONS.

[Pan Puts Awoonmos.j FATAL BISCLTBOF BLUE MSB. WELLINGTON. Duo. 21. A dreadful accident occurred at Lambton Quay this owning. At a quarter-past seven a load explosion was heard, and it was discovered tost some blue fire composition in the tear of Messrs Barraud and Sons' chemist shop had exploded. Mrs Anthony, wife of the manager of the business, who was in the yard with a little boy three yoira old, received terrible injuries, both her bands being Mown off close below the elbow, her right leg broken below the knee, and her jaw broken, besides which her face was fearfully cut and gashed. She was taken inside, and medical aid obtained. The injuries were attended to, after which the poor sufferer was token to the Hospital, where the died al nine o'clock this evening. The child fortunately escaped with a few slight bruises. Mr Anthony and other# ta the shop are al a loss to account for the explosion. They had been makto| blue fire composition during the forenoon, and found it to be dangerous, as some of it exploded and singed the hair of an assistant. About half a pound of the mixtor* was left in the mortar, and Mrs Anthony had suggested that the best means of getting rid of it would be to wash out the mortar will) water, and it it thought by many that •he was in the act of doing tbit when the cx clarion occurred. The report.. was heard fully half a mile away. The mortar was chat toted to atoms, fragment* being found at a distanc* of 100 yard*. The affair caused igveat excitement in town, and .great sympathy i* expressed for Mr Anthony.

EXPLOSION OF GAB. DUNEDIN, Due. fl. A serious fas explosion occurred to-night in Spoddtng'a auction stores, Princes street couth—lt is believed from rata having gnawed the gas pipe*. The effect was that a •beet of Hum hurst forth, two windows in the first floor were blown out, and the pranelled rilling on the ground floor was shattered to ri chans, whilst a table containing a quantity of fancy goods was thrown down. Two of toe employees were knocked down but art hurt, and one carrying a ease had it east spinning out of his hands to a distance of bra feet. The flames were quickly got under.