STUDENT’S TRAGIC DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1928, Page 15

STUDENT’S TRAGIC DEATH

FATAL EXPLOSION IN SCHOOL

GLASS PENETRATES HIS ABDOMEN WAS AN INEXPLICABLE ACCIDENT By Telegraph,—Frees Association. Pahiatua, April 5. Having inquired into the circumstances of the death of Leslie Wilfred Murphy, the 15-year-old boy who died on March 27 as the result of injuries received on February 6, when an explosion occurred in the science room of the Pahiatua District High School, the district coroner, Mr. J. D. Wilson, to-day returned an open verdict of accidental death. Murphy was the only son of bis widowed mother. The inquiry was opened last Wednesday but was adjourned to give representatives of the Wellington Education Board an opportunity to be present. To-day Constable F. Burrell represented the police, Mr. H. McTherry appeared for the Education Department and Mr. S. T. Tinney for the relatives of the boy. Mr. M. L. Stewart, secretary of the education board, was also in attendance. .The nature of the experiment was to set free hydrogen from water by the use of sodium, explained th© headmaster of the school, M, J. O’Connor. The igas was collected in a glass cylinder. He said he had never known an explosion to occur in a similar experiment where there was no light, but he admitted that a static spark might cause an explosion. About 2.50 p.m. on February ti he was informed that there had been an accident in the science room. He immediately went to the cookery room, which was next door, to which the lad had already been removed. Murphy was sitting .in a chair when witness reached the door. The boy stood up and spilled. His body was bent slightly and his arm held across his stomach.

“I don’t think it’s very bad,” said the boy, "but I feel 'winded,’ as if I had received a punch in the stomach.” Witness looked at the wound and came 'to the conclusion that the boy was seriously hurt. He had him conveyed immediately to hospital. Later witness went to the science room and gave instructions for the broken glass to be cleared away and buried. It was subsequently recovered by the police. Witness had personally performed the experiment many times previously. NO FAULT WITH EXPERIMENT. The morning following the accident the teacher in charge of the experiment explained, to him in detail how it had been performed. She informed witness that she had made a test experiment before doing it with the pupils. Witness was satisfied the experiment had been carried out in the usual manner. The teacher was quite qualified.

He could offer no reason why the explosion had occurred. The mixture of hydrogen and air without the introduction of a flame or spark would not cause an explosion. Witness had been a teacher for 14 years, the last two of which he had been at Pahiatua. Miss Edmed, who had conducted the experiment, was most capable and careful. If during the experiment Murphy, holding the glass cylinder of hydrogen under water, had had his attention distracted for a moment and allowed a portion of the hydrogen to escape into the air, this would create an explosive mixture. It would not explode, however, unless a light or spark were introduced. He had heard no suggestion from anyone that a light or spark had been nearby at the time of the accident. Mildred Clara Edmed, senior secondary assistant at the. school, said she had occupied the post for the past six and a half years. For four and a half years one of her duties had been to teach science to the matriculation class. Witness had been in the teaching profession for 21 years. On this afternoon a small experiment was made first before the class to show the chemical action of sodium on water, she said. Then a large experiment followed in which hydrogen was collected by Murphy and- another lad, John Horrax, members of the class. They were under supervision. Witness placed a piece of sodium about an inch long in a small piece of iron piping open at one end. She then put the piece of piping into the water while Murphy held the glass cylinder over it to collect the gas. The chemical action was rapid. The cylinder was nearly full of hydrogen gas, witness said, and she was looking round for another piece of apparatus when a terrific explosion occurred. Witness and those near were "smothered with water.” She rushed Murphy towards a light window, fearing that his face and eyes ere injured. He said he as not hurt, but then put his hand inside his shirt front and withdrew it covered with blood. Witness found he had two cuts on the abdomen. The headmaster was summoned at once and bandages obtained. CAUSE A COMPLETE MYSTERY. She never had an explosion occur with this experiment before, witness said. The cause was a complete mystery. Under ordinary circumstances the cylinder of hydrogen could have been exploded purposely, as was sometimes done, but. it should not have had the terrific force this explosion had. In reply to Mr. McTherry witness said she tested the appartus prior to performing the experiment before the class. It then worked perfectly. During the actual experiment with _ the class she did not leave the bench for a moment. During the second or so when her head was turned it would have been impossible for anybody to have struck a match. She was standing practically opposite Murphy, but the force of the explosion went in his direction, not hers.

John Stewart Ilorrax said that while the experiment was being conducted no matches were struck nor was any naked light introduced. Murphy was the senior boy of the class. Witness was nearest him when the explosion occurred.

Miss Edmed was a most careful, competent teacher, said Air. McTherry. It seemed extremely unfortunate that the accident, which was quite inexplicable; had occurred. The education board was in a different position to a commercial concern in that its duty was to provide children with a sound education. Every precaution known to those in charge bad been taken and no departure whatever made from the approved method. Miss Edmed had taken the precaution of testing the apparatus. There was no great risk in generating or collecting hydrogen gas provided no light or spark was brought in contact with the gas, which was not easily in-

flammable. All approved the action of the coroner in having a special detailed inquiry, as the accident had stirred the community considerably. He was sure the coroner would hold that there was no evidence of negligence on the part of Miss Edmed or of anyone else at the school. The Coroner said nothing had been shown to convince him what caused the accident. If the same experiment were repeated in an exactly similar manner another explosion might possibly occur. Neither of the teachers had been able to advance an opinion as to the cause. It seemed to him that such, experiments were something those in eharge of the particular department should inquire into to ascertain the wisdom or otherwise of continuing them. The only verdict he could give,, he said, was an open one of accidental death. He extended his sympathy to the relatives of the lad, and also to Miss Edmed, who keenly felt the tragedy. There was a possibility that sodium would bo dispensed with altogether for experimental purposes in small laboratories, said Mr. McTherry. The matter was receiving the attention of the education board.

Mr. Stewart said the board sincerey regretted the circumstances. He conveyed its sympathy to Mrs. Murphy and Miss Edmed.