PECULIAR ACCIDENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10704, 31 March 1926, Page 7

PECULIAR ACCIDENT.

EXPLOSION OF CYLENDER.

FIVE MEN SEVERELY BURNED. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 30. 1 Five men were severely burned about the face and arms at the corrugated iron works of Samuel Parker, Ltd., Mechanics Bay, shortly after II o'clock this morning. The accident was caused through an iron cylinder which they were engaged in galvanising exploding just as it was being -lifted out of the container, in which there were molten zinc and sal ammoniac. The names and addresses of the injured, are as follow: C. Wheeler, St Mary's Road, Ponsonby, severe burns to tace and arms, and left eye damaged. F. Home, Manukau Road, Newmarket, burns to face and arms. E. H. Beechey, Osborne Street, Newmarket/ burns to face and arms. -G. Son res, Wellington Street, City, burns to face and arms. | F. C. Willetts, .Dunbar Road, Mount I Eden, flight burns to face and arms.

Messrs Wheeler, Home, Beechey, and Soares were admitted to hospital, while Mr Willetts, after receiving attention, was able to proceed to his home.

Several other employees who were in the vicinity received minor burns from flying molten metal. The cylinder which exploded was of the ordinary type used for containing petrol on motor waggons and 'buses. It had been closed at both ends and soldered preparatory to being placed in a. molten zinc and sal ammoniac bath for the purpose of being galvanised. When the cylinder or tank was being lifted out of the molten metal bath and was half-way up, the explosion occurred, throwing showers in every direction, even up to a distance of 25 feet away. Molten zinc itself causes a most painful burn, but when sal ammoniac is added the pain caused is much more excruciating. Mr G. Graydon, who received minor burns about the arms, stated that he was standing beside the bath containing the molten zinc and sal ammoniac. The remainder of the men were stationed at various positions around tha bath, and all were assisting to haul the cylinder from the bath. The cylinder was blown from the ropes that held it and struck Mr Graydon, who was knocked back into a tub of sawdust, with his arms burnt by molten zinc. The remainder of the men were showered with zinc, which caused their clothing and hair to ignite. One man's hair, said Mr Graydon, was alight, and' when his mate endeavoured to extinguish it with a hat, that, too, ignited. The shirts worn by the men taken to the hospital were burnt to ribbons and gave an idea of the extent and nature of the injuries received by these men.

Other men who were in the vicinity stated that hundreds of cylinders with smaller holes than those in the cylinder that exploded had been dipped without mishap.