A BOILER BURSTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 2

A BOILER BURSTS.

AN ALBURY FATALITY

A YOUNG MAN KILLED

SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED.

MUCH DA-MAGE DONE

An Albury telegram to the Melbourne 'Herald' on January 28 staes: 'Shortly before 9 o'clock this mornins- the boiler at Hayes Bros.' flour mill, situated in the centre .of the most populous portion of the town, exploded with terrible results. The disaster, which caused consternation in the town, was attended with the loss of a life, injury to several people, and the loss of fully £3000 worth of property. At the time of the explosion there were three men engaged at the mill, and the engine had been stopped for a little while the workmen were engaged in fixing the belt. Without the slightest warning the boiler blew out. The bulk of it was carried nearly fifty yards in one direction, and the fire box cast a similar distance in the opposite direction. Another portion, weighing nearly a ton, was blown into the air to a height of a hundred feet, and thrown over the Cub Hotel, a two-storied building, two hundred yards from the scene of the explosion.

At the time the family of a boarding housekeeper, named New, were seated at breakfast, and a boy named Francis New, eleven years old. had just risen from the table when the boiler struck the end of the building, tearing away the side, and killing the boy instantly. He was struck on the head by the end of the boiler, and his skull crushed to an unrecognisable mass.

Mrs Carroll and her child, residing in a butcher's shop, next to the mill, were badly hurt with the f ailing bricks and escaping steam, and the child is in a precarious condition.

Airs Hunter and child, occupants of another building in proximity to the mill, were also badly hurt, both being admitted to the hospital, suffering from injuries caused by the falling debris.

Mrs Brougham and child, who also reside in the locality, were both badly hurt anil George beh metier, v yuiiiig man who at the time was making some purchases in an adjoining shop was cut and bruised by bricks and splinters.

The, rear of Puttmann's chemist shop, on the right hand side of the mill, was almost completely wrecked, and Mr Puttmann had a marvellous escape from injury. He estimates his loss at £100. The office occupied by Mr Robison, solicitor, was damaged, and some damage was done to the rear of the Australian Hotel, into the yard of which the fire-box of the boiler was thrown. Bricks were carried in every direction, and thrown through windows and iron roofs on ail sides of the mill.

The rear of the mill and the machinery shed itself were completely wrecked. Hundred of bags of wheat were more or less damaged, and the machinery almost irrepairably wrecked. Hayes Bros, estimate the damage at £2000.-

The shock was felt for a radius of a mile, windows being shaken and crockery rocked as if by a severe shock of earthquake.