An Explosion at the Forts.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 7 March 1891, Page 2

An Explosion at the Forts.

— - ■ + THREE MEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. Shortly after 11 o'clock yesterday forenoon an explosion of gun cotton occuredat Shelly Bay which seriously injured five members of the Torpedo Corps. It appears that the unfortunate men, whose names are Boss, Jensen, Cornwall, Goldie, and McCallum, were engaged filling gun cotton cartridges in the smithy at Shelly Bay, when one of the cans exploded, the concussion from which had the effect of exploding seven others already filled and stacked in the shed. As soon as the accident ocoured, a message was sent by telephone for a doctor, and Br GabiU,

accompanied by the Hon. Mr Seddor went across in the Ellen Ballance tc . the scene of the accident. The in jury to the unfortunate man Ross was found to be so serious that hi* depositions were taken. It appears that Ross was filling up tins whicr held about 51bs of gun cottott. Tc make it clear it may be stated thai after placing the gun cotton in th* tins about an inch of space is left ai the top which is filled with ashes, and then the lid is soldered on, When the explosion occured Ross was in the act of soldering one oi these tins. The explosion was sc terrific that it drove Ross to the other end of the shed, and he landed on the other seven tins which then immediately exploded and blew the unfortunate man back to the spot Where he was first at work. The poor fellow is horribly disfigured, and most seriously injured. His whole body is more or less scorched, the skin is burnt off his face, arms and legs. He has cuts on both his hips legs and lip, and a terrible wound in his abdomen. The other men are very badly burnt by being driven by the force of the concussion against the machinery in the building. As to the cause of the accident there are two theories, one is that the ashes which had been used to fill up the tins contained a live ember ; the other is that the heat of the soldering iron ignited the cotton. It may be mentioned that the work of filling these tins was carried on within seven feet of the smithy fire. The other four men though seriously injured, are not nearly in such a bad case as the unfortunate man Ross who is not expected to recover. So critical was his condition last night that his wife went over in the Ellen Ballance. Goldie and McCallum wjre brought over at 5 o'clock, the former being taken to the A. C. Depot, and McCallum to his friends. The other two men, Cornwall and Jensen, were in less pain last night and it is expected that they will be able to be removed to the Hospital to-day. Dr Cahill went over again last night, and remained there in order to attend to the sufferers. The man Cornwall as soon as he realised what had happened rushed out into the water to extinguish his burning clothes. Captain Falconer had only left the ehed a minnte or so before the explosion to attend to some clerical work, and was in the act of return ing when the accident occured. In all probability an inquiry will be held for the purpose of ascertaining all the facts in connection with the accident.— N. Z. Times.