SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1047, 23 September 1911, Page 3

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

Westport, Sept, 21

A shocking accident occurred about midday to-day on the rail - way construction works in the Buffer Gorge, whereby Timothy Corby, contractor, aud Thomas Low, au employee, lost their lives.

The men were engaged in connecting up a slow to a rapid fuse, aud apparently the gelignite in one out of the four holes prepared or in course of preparation went off. Some thirty tons of stone were dislodged by the force of the blast.

A search for the bodies of the unfortunate men failed to reveal any trace other than mere fragments on the rocks aud trees on the river bank.

One eye-witness stated that he saw a coated body, believed to be Corby, fly through the air aud descend into the river. Nothing was seen of the other man.

Mr Corby was one of the bestknown meu in the district, being a member of the Buffer County Council lor four years, and for some time its chairman. He was also a member of the Westport Harbour Board, the Buffer Hospital Board, and,of various other public bodies. With Mr Foster he had only recently accepted a contract on the harbour works at Motueka for a sum totalling close on £20,000. He leaves a widow aud six of a family. Low was a single man, a native of Allendale, Victoria.