Shocking Explosion.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 213, 13 September 1904, Page 4

Shocking Explosion.

Details are to nana 01 wiu b™ explosion Ithait book place at the Diamond Gully Hydraulic Sluicing Company's woi'ks, near Castlemainc (Victoria), on August 31. 'lke mining manager, Mil Patrick Gilmore, met with a terKtole death, while another miner, diaries B o ots, was so injured that little hope Is entertained of iua recovery. The enginendriver, David Smith, who was standing at the door of the enginO-hou.se, some 60yds away, was the only person to witness the occurrence. Ho states that he saw the manager and Boots taking a tin box of explosives and some caps to where they were breaking ground away. The tin was put down on Hie ground, while tho two men appeared to ibe examining some caps which were djaimp. The manager struck a match, and lit ona of tho caps, but as it did not go oIT, he threw it on the ground, and had just struck another match to try another cap, when the explosion took place. The only cause which Smith could assugn was that on throwing tho first cap away it fell into the case of gelignite awl exploded, causing tho 60 or 60 plugs of the explosive to go off. Tho men working on the lease all received a severe shock, ibut quickly proceeded to where the two Injured men were lying, when they witnessed a most distressing sight. Mr Gilmore's logs were shattored, ami he was ripped open from his legs up to his head, 'being quite disembowelled. The flesh was torn from his bones, and his head had beon lacerated. Tho men lifted him up, but murmuring, '''My God 1 , thii;i is terrible !" toe fell back, and death released him from his sufferings. Deceased's overalls, shirt, and waistcoat were blown to shreds, and scattered all over the paddock. The ground around the body was covered with pools of blood. The miner Boots did not apparently get the full force of the explosion but otic of his legs was badly torn and shattered, wjuilst his tody is almost completely covered with pieces of tin and cartridge cases that were around the explosives, which are firmly embedded in his flesh, and lie suffered terribly from shock. He was conveyed to tho hospital. Dr. Hill and tho honorary staff of surgeons held a consultation, and decided to operate. The shattered leg was amputated, and pieces of metal had to 4*3 cut out from various parts of the body. The aljdomen had to be opened to enable the surgeons to rej move pieces of tin that had perforat ted the intestines. The unfortunate j miner was under the influence of an- _ aesthetics for several hours. The late Mr Gilmore leaves a widy ow and five children, the eldest .being j 15 and the youngest four years old. 1 Deceased was for many years a road - 1 contractor in tho district. Several ; years ago he visited West Australia, and returned just as dredging comI menced in tho district at Campbell's Creek, whero he obtained work. On ii the Diamond Gully Company etarte iiig ho was selected as manager, and e woa doing excellent service when his s career was so unfortunately termini ated. s