NEWS BY THE COPTIC. Explosion of a Shell at Shoeburyness.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 6

NEWS BY THE COPTIC. Explosion of a Shell at Shoeburyness.

Frightful Consequences. Our London correspondent, writing pcr 1 diroot steamer Coptic on February 27th, I 6a y ß ;; — «< About two hours after the closing of the San Francisco mail last evening, news was received in town of an appalling accidont at tbo School of Gunnery, Shooburyness, whereby a party of officers were so dreadfully mutilated that their recovery is hopeless. Colonel Lyon, Superintendent of the Iloyal Laboratory, went from VN oolwich yesterday to carry out experiments with sensitive fuzes of his own invention and a rocket float, which were too hazardous to be attompted at the llcyul Arsonnl. Mr Lowe, the atsistant managor of the Labora- ' lory, accompanied him, and they wero joined by Beveral officers attached to tho School of Gunnery, including Colonel Fox-Strangways, the Commandant, and also several members of tho Ordnance Committee of the War Oflice. From j the brief particulars that could be ascer- ! tamed it appeas that as one of the ' "sensitivo fuses" was being screwed into a nine-inch shell, tho latter oxplodcd with j terrilic effect, Gunner Allen was killed on the spot ; Colonel Fox-Srtangways, Commandiint of the School of Gunnery, had one foot blown oil' and his leg shattered ; Colonel j Lyon, of the Ordnance Committeo, had both logs blown off just below the thigh ; Captun G. Adams, Second Experimental Officer, had both logs blown off and his face terribly mutilated ; and Warrant Officer Daykin had one leg blown off from the thigh. None of these officers aro expected to recover. Gunner Underwood had one leg blown off, and another gunnor was al&o wounded severely. Mr Kowo, a civilian, of Woolwich Arsenal, was sevoroly wounded in the leg, whilst Captain Lowe and others had narrow escapes. Major Buller, who was 300 yards away, was struck by a portion of tho shell, avid ron dered insensible, but his squad-book saved his life. Tho disaster has created consternation throughout the garrison and village. In addition to Gunner Alien, who was killed outright,other two have succumbed to the terrible injuries which they received, viz., Capt. Goold Adams, Second Assistant Superintendent of Experiments, who loat both logs and sustained obhoi dreadful injuries ; and Sorgoant-Major Daykin, one of uhoso legs was blown clean off trom just below the thigh. There aro seven othor officers and men at present under the care of the surgeon. From .inquiries made on tho spot it appears that the explosion occurred about half past three, in that part of tho gun ranges known aa tho Marsh. A party of officers, representing the School of Gunnery and the Ordnance Solect Committee, woie at that moment gathered round a " live " shell, to which was being affixed an experimental fuse recently invented by Col. Lyon, Superintendent of the Royal Labora tory. The shell \n as lying on tho ground, and as the experiment was not considered a paiticularly dangerous one, no special precautions w ere taken. The fuse was ia the act of being screwed into the shell, it is understood, by Gunnor Allen, when tho shell oxp'oded. The alarm was quickly conveyed to the camp, and assistance was speedily forthcoming. The -wounded Mere tenderly convoked to the Ganison Hospital, wheie they tecehed every possible attention from the local &ui goons, civil and military Dr. Iheodore Acland arrived by the half-past seven train from London, and rendered most valuable assistance. Tho following statement lias been issued by tho surgeons : Colonel Fox-Strangways, compound fracture of both legs, rendering amputation necessary below the knees; Colonel Lyons, compound fracture of both legs, which have been amputated above tho knees ; Major Bally, severe lacerated wound and fracture of tho spine ; Gunner Underwood, compound fracture of the light thigh and other extensive injuries, amputation necessary ; Gunnor Wobb, com pound frncturo of the right leg (severo) ; ; Gunner Macaully, slight wounds on the legs and extensive burns ; Mr Ranee, civilian, left leg severely injured and right leg scorched ; Mr Low, both legs burnt.

Current Topics. A ma« 3 meeting of Conservatives was held in the city yesterday to condemn the Soudan policy of the Government. Mr W. 11. Smith made an impassioned speech, in which he called upon his fellow-country-men to release themselves from the feeble and vacillating rule of Gladstone and his servile follower?. In the Houso of Lords yesterday, Lord Salisbury moved a vote of censure on the Government in a long and eloquent speech. The House was crowded. The Prince of Wales and other Royalties occupied tho cross benches, and the steps of the throne wcie littered with peers' son?. The papers consider Lord Salisbury's attack cogent and practical. Ho denied that tho Conservatives had no policy of their own with regard to the Soudan. They had a very distinct one, but hesitated to formulate it publicly lest their weakkneed opponents should promptly adopt it in the hope of retaining office. Thomas F. Anderson, the fraudulent master of the Liverpool Workhouse, who absconded to New Zealand with ,C 240, and was subsequently arrested in the colony and trotted back to dear old England by a detective, was brought up at tho Liverpool Police Court yesterday, and charged. Tho j worthy magistrate remanded the prisoner till Tuesday next. Tho Court circular announces that Princess Bcatrico will be married to Prince Henry of Battenburg on July 23rd or 24th, The first great thoatrical "premier® "of the London season 1885 took place last night at the Princesses Theatre-, when the late Lord Lytton's posthumous play " Junius, or the Household Gods," was produced before a large and representative audience, embracing the Prince and Princess of Wales and almost c.cry social, literary, and artistic "star" now in town. The drama, though a triflo heavy and over-burdened with talkeo - talkeo in blank verso, -was generally pronounced a great work and a big success.

Says the " Waikato Times " of Saturday.—"Our reade v s will bo surprised to hear that, after the elaborato ceremony attached to the turning of the sod at the Puniu river on Wednesday last, the prosecution of the work is to be delayed. On Thursday morning, by appointment with the District Engineer, Mr Hales, Mr Isaac Coatos, tho contractor, and his sureties attended at the Public Works, Auckland, for the purposo of signing bonds, &c. Thoy were informed that the papers would not be ready until four o'clock p in., and alto that certain clauses were proposed to be added to the conditions about works boing stopped in case of war, and no compensation to bo allowed, or something to that effect. At four p.m., on again visiting the office, it was found that bjnds could not be signed until the extra conditions were sent up from Wellington. Under theeo circun> stances Mr Coates returned home, and has stopped all preparations for starting the work until a further development of tho Government intentions takes place.",