TOM COSTELLO'S STORY.

Saw George Taylor Killed

Father Finds His Boy's Body.

Thomas Costello, shunter at Upper Hutt, who lies with a terribly lacerated and contused leg and side, gave "Truth's" rep. a graphic account of the tragedy. He had just got outside the shop door with some jelly moulds he had salvaged, when the explosion occurred. The unfortunate young railway porter, George Taylor, was right up alongside him, just inside the shop window, and was m tho act of lifting up some cordial bottles. "I was standing by the side of Taylor," relates Mr. Costello, "and was looking m his direction. Suddenly there was a brilliant flash AND A MIGHTY ROAR, and I was blown fully 20 yards away, Taylor was slightly stooping and the Hash seemed to be right near his face. Then his head seemed to become shattered away and simultaneously I was blown out of the doorway." ! When poor Taylor's body was discovered, it was lying just outside the verandah debris, on the street, and the only recognisable part of his head was a portion of the lotfer jaw. The rest had been, blown away, even as Shunter Costello stated. Taylor was a mere youth, 19 years of age, and was the eldest son of Mr. G. Triylor, gardener. He had been two years m the service and was assistant to Guard Flynn on the train which arrived when the fire broke out. He was born and educated m the Hutt district and resided with his parents at the Upper Hutt Sad to relate, it was Mr. Taylor, .senior, who first discovered His son. On hearing the roar of the explosion he anxiously made his way to the front of tho building, knowing that his boy was m the thick of the battle. Ho had not proceeded far when he stumbled over a body. Seeing the railway uniform he cried out m anguish to his companion, "Is that my boy?" Tho companion re-

plied m the negative, but ,the anxious father stooped down amongst the smoke and noise, and found that his worst surmises were only too true — it was his son's body. Woltors and Anderson, as already stated, removed the remains and laid them reverently out of further harm's way.