FATAL EXPLOSION.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5083, 22 December 1881, Page 2

FATAL EXPLOSION.

[?BBBS ASSOCTATIOjr TBXJSSBAM.J WELLINGION, December 21

A dreadful accident ocourred at Lambton Quay thie evening at 7 15. A loud explosion was heard, and it was discovered that some blue fire compoiition in the rear of Meeen Barraud and Sons' chemist's shop had exploded. Mre Anthony, the wife of the manager of the bueinesi, who was in the yard with her little boy three years old, received terrible injuries, both hands being blown off close below the elbow, her right leg broken, her jaw broken, besides her face fearfully cut and gashed. She was taken inside and medical aid obtained. The several injuries were attended to, after which the poor sufferer was taken to the hospital, where she died at nine o'olook. The child fortunately escaped with a few slight bruises. Mr Anthony and others in the shop are at a loss to account for the explosion. They had been making blue fire composition during I the forenoon, and found it to be dangerous, ac some of it exploded, and singed the bair of an assistant. About half a pound of the mixture was left in a mortar, and Mrs Anthony had suggested that the best means of getting rid of it would be to wash out the mortar with water, and it is thought by many that she was in the act of doing this when the explosion ooourred. The report was heard fully half a mile away. The mortar was shattered to atoms, fragments being found at a distance of 100 yards. The affair caused great excitement in town, and great sympathy is expressed for Mr Anthony. [*BOH OVZ OOBBESPOITDBin.] A shocking ooourrence took place this evening, by whioh a lady was literally blown to pieces and a building partially wrecked. The facts are as follows: —At the shop of Mr Barraud, ohemist, Lambton Quay, some blue fire was in course of preparation for use at the theatre. On testing a small portion of the mixture it was • found dangeronsly explosive, too muoh chlorate of potash having been inadvertently used in the composition. Accordingly Mr Barraud'e aisistant, Mr Anthony (formerly of Chrbtohuroh) took it out in the back yard and began to destroy it by slow combustion. Hβ had occasion to leave for an instant, and before he could return his wife happened to go into the yard, and seeing the chemioale on fire, at once threw a bucket of water on the burning mass. A terrific explosion, immediately took place, which shook the whole city, and was heard at a distance of some miles. Poor Mrs Anlhony received the full force of the shook, and was frightfully mutilated. Both arms were torn off, also one leg, the lower jaw, and the soalp. All the windows in the vicinity were smashed, and other damage dono. The stone mortar in whioh the composition had been mixed was hurled many feet into the air, and flung clear over the tops of the bouses into the next street. Fortunately nobody else was injured. The dreadful occurrence oreated a profound'Seniation in the cifcv-