Terrible Explosion.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 187, 14 July 1883, Page 3

Terrible Explosion.

A POWDER MAGAZINE ..,. BLOWN UP. nsEVEN PERSONS KILLED. A." terrible explosion occurred at the Government powder magazine at Priddy's Hard, Gosport, about three miles from Portsmouth. Much damage Jjgs been done, and seven lives have lost. The noise was heard for a great distance, and assistance was speedily at hand. Seven men of the Royal Artillery were found lying on the ground, and were at once conveyed to Harlar Hospital. It was there discovered that five were deadj and one was m a dying state. The other man killed was a labourer. Priddy's Hard is the principal explosives magazine m the district, and at the time of the accident a party of artillerymen were engaged m loading shell. The operation is conducted thus : A man sits with the skeleton shell m bis lap, and alter it has been filled with the charge the fuse is hammered m by means of a wooden mallet . Should it happen that the slightest atom of grit finds its way to the outer surface of the fuse detonation ensues. This was what happened m this case, or such is the supposed cause of the explosion, which was heard throughout Portsea and Gosport, and owing to the recent Fenian alarms it was first feared that the magazine had been blown up. It turned out, however, that tbe explosion was the result of a pure accident. The brick-built shed m which tne men Wert at work was inbtantly blown to pieces, and the other Bhells were scattered . There were altogether twelve men at work at the time, one of whom was a | labourer, and the whole of them were more or less injured, the labourer and one artilleryman being killed instantly . Seven other men were picked up m sheets and blankets, and taken to Haslar Hospital m special launches, These were then placed under surgical treatment, but of these seven, five have since died, making seven deaths m all.