SHOCKING FATALITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9669, 7 December 1909, Page 5

SHOCKING FATALITY.

By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, Dec. 6. An explosion of acetylene gas with shocking results, occurred in Church Street East on Saturday evening, by which Edward Mundy, a lad of 14 years of age, was killed almost instantly. He was the son of Mr Jas. Mundy, a bootmaker, living at 60, Church Street East, and being of a mechanical turn of mind had made an acetylene gas generator out of an oil drum whicn fitted loosely into a circular tank filled 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 bis brother William were attempting to light the tube fixed to the end of the oil drum when the explosion occurred Dectased must have been leaning over the generator at the tim.., for the lop of the oil drum was blown out and struck him in the face, cutting the top-of his head clean off from the eyes to the back of the skull. Deceased's aim was aLo broken by the explosion. The top of tne oil drum struck the roof of the shed with tremendous force, taking a piece out of one of the raftfra, and lifting the iron of the roof. Deceased's brother had a very narrow escape. H>: must have had his hand near the generator when the explosion occurra.i, for he received a very severe injury to his right hand. Dr. O'Brien was c tiled in anp foiind deceased in a frightful condition, and just breathing his last.