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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 208, 1 September 1881, Page 4

The Sydne7 correspondent of tbe k< Age" furnishes the following particulars concerning tlie extraordir ary accident which happened recently at the Crown Ridge Hotel, on tbe Mudgee road, through an explosion of dynamite. Among the persons who slept in the hotel the previous night was a commercial traveller named R. C. Gault, who was transacting business for a dynamite firm in Melbourne. This gentleman had three small tin boxes with him containing samples of dynamite. On Mondiy morning he was expecting a viait from Mr. Moonoy, a probable customer. He took samples of dynamite cu 1 ; of two tin boxes and placed tbem along the fender in front of the parlor fire, with a view of softening the powder for Mooney's inaction. Shortly before eight oVock a servant girl in the room preparing breakfast noticed the paeknges and bandied them, unsuspicious of daDger. A little while afterwards Mrs Pacdison, the i oteus, and a family of nine in all, gat down to b«^Bfc.J*H«?diy hsd they takeu

their seats when a tremendous explosion, which threw them to the ground, nearly blew the house down. Tbe parlor and bedroom adjoining, the whole Bide of the building, and also the greater portion of the roof were blown away, making the house a complete wreck. When they regained their feet search was made for Gault. After some time it was discovered that he had been literally blown to atoms. Some portions of his entrails were found thirty yards away adhering to pieces of the roof, and parta of his lower limbs were scattered about the hotel yard. The other nine persons all escaped with a few bruises, but they were greatly terrified by tbe explosion.