INTERESTING NOTES AND INTENTIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1594, 28 January 1884, Page 2

INTERESTING NOTES AND INTENTIONS.

The following well-authenticated case of the firing of a dynamite magazine is of interest About a month ago, says the Engineering and Mining Journal of, New York,- the company, operating the salt mines at Avery's, or Petit Ane, Iboria, Parish, La., received a large quantity of; dynamite | for blasting purposes. The same was "stored in a magazine situated about four hundred yards from the works. Large trees jwere. in close proximity. On Saturday,- 1 July 21; a few minutes past twelve, o'clok, a terrific storm burst on the island. Torrents of rain fell, and ; ,iVivid flashes of lightning rent the sky, The. workmen had left" and'reached the boarding house, situated at some distance away from the'works, when the lightning struck the magazine, and immediately there followed an awful explosion. For a few minutes all seemed entirely paralysed. Recovering, some" rushed out to ascertain the cause.'. It. was then discovered that the'building, in which was stored the explbsive compound, had- disappeared, -'and, in its place was left a yawnihg 'Chasm 15ft or 20ft in diameter,- was carried by the ■ immense powef : in' the blast 200 , yards from where it preyionsly stood.., Eveiy; building' on. the, island contiguous--.to" the ;'&ines was shaken ,in a terrible: inartner,' causing every glass door and; window- to part with its glass.- The buildings- containing the mills and machinery were much damaged, preventing, access ;to the shaft for the time being. Eight box-ears, ready to be loaded, were entirely crushed in their upper part, the running gear remaining intact.