SEVERELY BURNED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20739, 24 February 1939, Page 3

SEVERELY BURNED

BLASTING POWDER EXPLODES ARTICLES IN POCKET IGNITE (By Teterraph.—Press Association* % TAL7RANGA, Thursday A serious explosion of blasting powder occurred at Welcome Ray. abou four miles from here, resulting in M G. Dunton being badly burnt on th< Jeff hand and arm, face and body. Mr Dunton had been engaged dur ing Hie afternon blasting logs an. house carrying a bag containing aUni shortly after \ o'clock returned to ; 5Jb of blasting powder in his JefL hand lie stopped near the back door to tall to Mrs Dunton. At the point when he stood water was dripping slight!: from a tank above. The drips apparently caught on his left-hand trouser: pocket in which were a small quant it; or sodium chi..rate and a box of safet; matches, and soaked through, causing the sodium and matches to jemite, ii turn igniting the powder, wfTTcTi < \ ploded. Mr Dunton caught the full forcr with his left hand, which was verj severely burnt, and also his arm. His clothing caught fire, and wa> torn off by Mrs Dunton and others, bu lie suffered sev.-re burns to portion* of his body and left leg. \ doctor who was to hospital a! Tauranaa. It is feared lie rna> U th« si-lit of hi* rivht eye Mr Du? lon's distal alongside him and Mrs Dunton. a short distance away, were uninjured.