ACETYLENE GAS EXPLOSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 258, 7 December 1909, Page 4

ACETYLENE GAS EXPLOSION

A BOY KILLED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmcrston N., Monday. An explosion of acetylene gas, wi;h shocking results, occurred in Church Street Hast on Saturday evening when Edward Muuuy, a lad U years of age, was killed almost instantly. Deceased was the son of Mr. Jas. Mundy, bootmaker, aDj. being of a mechanical turn of mind, tad made an acetylene gas generator out of an oil drum, which htted loosely into a circular tank iilled with water. The gas was used to light up a small cinematograph apparatus which deceased had. It appears that just after six o'clock deceased and his brother William were attempting to liglrt the tube fixed to the end of the oil drum, when the explosion occurred. Deceased must have been leaning over the generator at the time for the top of the oil drum was, blown out and struck him in tile face, cutting the top of his head clean oil', from the eyes to the back of the sku'l. Deceased's arm was also broken oy the explosion. The too of ;Le oil drum struc'-c the root of the »ue,l with tremendous force, taking a piece out of the rafters and liting the iron off tho roof. Deceased's 'brother had a very narrow escape. lie had his hand near the generator when the explosion occurred and received a very severs injury to the right hand. Dr. O'Brien was called in and found deceased in a frightful condition and just breathing U'.s last. At an inquest (his morning a was returned that deceased was killed accidentally by an explosion of acetylene