FATAL EXPLOSION AT MANGAHAO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2311, 4 August 1921, Page 3

FATAL EXPLOSION AT MANGAHAO.

TUNXELLER KILLED; ANOTHER

INJURED,

An explosion of gelignite, attended with fatal consequences, occurred at the Mangnhno hydro-electric works at*lo.3o o’clock yesterday morning. The victims were Alexander Murdoch, who was instantaneously killed, and Michael Lynch, who sustained injuries of a very serious nature.

Deceased, with four males, went on tunnelling duly at 8 o’clock. They were informed by the head of the previous shift that there was an unexploded charge in the face of the tunnel. From his actions, it was apparent that Murdoch was working at the charge, evidently trying to pick it out, when it exploded. Murdoch met an instantaneous death, while his mate, Lynch, who was a little distance from him, received shocking injuries to his face. At the time of the explosion, the others of the party were out of danger, having just previously taken some trucks out of the tunnel.

Constable McGregor, of Shannon, brought the body of the deceased to Shannon, where an inquest will be held this afternoon.

The late Mr Murdoch, who was 33 years of age, was married only sixweeks ago to Miss K. Persson, of Palmerston North. He saw considerable service with the Tunnelling Corns at the war. Deceased’s mother lives at Marion.

An operation was performed upon Lynch at the Palmerston Hospital yesterday afternoon, and several large pieces of metal were extracted from his face. He is suffering severely from shock, and is in a somewhat critical condition.