SHOCKING FATALITY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10431, 23 September 1911, Page 5

SHOCKING FATALITY

TWO MEN BLOWN TO PIECES.

PREMATURE EXPLOSION OF GELIGNITE. "

By Telegraph—Press Association.

WESTPORT, Sept. 21

A shocking accident occurred about mid-day to-day, on. the railway construction works in the Bullelr Gorge, whereby Timothy Cbrby, contractor, and Thomas Low, an employee, lost their lives. The men were engaged in connecting up a slow to a rapid fuse, and apparently the gelignite in one of the four hole® prepared or in'course of preparation went off. Some thirty; tons of stone were dislodged, by the force of tihe blaet. A search for the bodies of the unfortunate men failed to reveal any trace other than mere fragments on ihe rocks and trees on. the riverbank.

•One eye-witness stated, thathe Eaw a coated body, believed to be Cbrby, fly througih tihe air and descend into the river. Ktothing was Been of the other man. . ' . Mr Corby was one of the bestknown men; in tiie district, being a member of the Buller Cfounty Council for four years, and for some time its chjairman. He was also a member of the Westport Harbour Board, the'Buller Hospital Board, and of various other public bodies. 'With ■Mi- Foster he had only recently accepted a contract on the harbour worke at Motueka for a sum totalling close on £20,000. He leaves a widtow and six of a family. Low was a single roam, a native of Allendale, Victoria.