THE GUN COTTON EXPLOSION AT SHELLY BAY.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 55, 6 March 1891, Page 2

THE GUN COTTON EXPLOSION AT SHELLY BAY.

PULL PARTICULARS. TORPED'>MAN ROSS' DEPOSITIONS. The fearful explosion wh.ch occurred at ths torpedo atation in Shelly Bay yesterday morning naturally caused considerable excitement throughout the city. Tha report at first current was to the effect that three men had been tilled outright, bnt when it was subsequently ascertained that all the men were alive a great feeling of relief was experienced The injuries received by DenBern, Eoss, and Cornwall are of a featful oharacter, and it is feared that one of them (Ross) will auconmb. il'Callum and Goldie, both of whom are nnrter tho age of 25, escaped with a Eevere scorohing, and it is anticipated that they will have recovered sufficiently to be able to resumo duty in two or three weeks. The smithy in wbioh the explosion took place is a corrugated iron buildicc about 40ft lang and 20ft wide, ana is sitnated right in the centre of tha bay. Rosa, who is about 35 years of age, ia a blackemith by trade, and waa at one time in the employ of Messre. Luke and Sons, of Te Aro Foundry. He was always considered a smart tradesman, and when he jomed the Torpedo Corps about five year-i ago. Captain Falconer seleoted him to take charge of the smithy connected with the station. One of his duties was to solcL-r on the lids of the oanisters in wbioh a charge of gun cotton, weighing 6ilb, is placed. Captain Falconer frequently performed this part of the work himself, but the majority of the canistors, which wore made either of copper or tin plate, were soldered up by Ross, and we are informed that he has soldered up at least one hundred of these vessels. Each canister is about nine inches in length, with a diameter of four and a-half inohe3, and every one used by the corps has been manufactured by RO3B. Operations in tho smithy were commenced about 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and all went well until about 11. Several of the oanisters had been filed with gun cotton and ashes, and tho lids soldered on, and Ross was in the aot of putting the finishing touohea to another ot the tins when it EXPLODED IN HIS HANDS, causing a report whioh could be heard several j hundred yards away. Immediately afterwards two more reports, equally loud, took place, and the little settlement nt once presented a scene of considerable activity. Men who had been engaged in various duties in the buildings contiguous to the smi-hy rushed out in a state of alarm, and a few seoonds only elapsed beforo the fact was realised that several of their comrades had been fearfully injorod. 'I he first explosion threw Ross on to a bench on which were standing the canisters he bad assisted in filling, and a moment afterwards these also went off, with such force that ho was thrown baok again to the spot whore he had been standing before. The contents of eight oanisters were ignited, the total quantity of tho explosive being over 50 pounds. Goldie, who had been ia the force for about two years, waß considered by Captiin Falconer to ba a very smart young fellow, and the high opinion which his superior officer had of his ability is shown by the fact that he was Belooted Eome time ago_ for the important position of tetter. _ Goldie's duty was to superintend tho filling of the canisters, and just before the explosion occurred he had han led the very tin which caused the mischief. Fortunately for him he had gone out of the building when he had filled up the vessel, and was in the act of entering again when he waa blown away. Had he been occupied at tho 'ime with his usual duty, there is not the slightest doubt that ho would have suffered as terribly as poor Ross. Densem, Cornwall, and M'Callum were working at the other end of the smithy, acd all wero injured, the two firßt-named being badly hurt. The olotheu of each man in the building caught firo, and all tho men were badly burned, moro particularly about the face and arms. Deubum orawled out on his bands and knees, while Cornwall and Ross rnshed »ont with a fearful look on their countenances. Densem had not a particle of clothing upon him except a remnant of the legs of his drawors when he emergod from the smithy, but Ross, Cornwall, and Rl'Callura were not so badly off in that respeot. Cornwall, as we explained yesterday, BUSHED INTO THE SEA in front ofthe building and extinguished tho flames whioh were consuming his clothing, while M'Callum and Ross were taken in hand by Corporals Wall and Nelson and several others, who rolled them in blankets, bags, &0., and thus pnt out the fire. The injnred men were then carried into the barraoks, where everything was dona to alleviate their sufferings. Intimation of the aooident was promptly telephoned to the Defence authorities, and the Ellen Ballance, which was lying at the wharf at the time, was sent across to Wellington for medioal assistance. Every pound of steam waa raised to bring the boat along, and although Bhe had a stiff nor'-wester, with a lumpy sea, to contend against, she made the trip faster than ever she did it before. Dr. Cahill's servioes were procured, and tho steatnor was baok again in Shelly Bay in less than half an hour. Colqnol Humfrey, Undersecretary, aleo went over with Dr. Cahill, and remained at the station until late in the afternoon. Dr. Cahill lost no time in attending to the sufferers, and although he reoeived every assistance from Captain Falooner and those members of the force who had not been injured, several hours elapsed bofore the task waa over. The medioal examination showed that Ross, Densem, and Cornwall were injnred more seriously than was at first supposed. Densem's hair waa completely burned from the face, which was covered with a chirred mass of blood and cutiole. Thero was a lacerated oontused wound on tho left cheek and eyebrow, extending on to the temple. The outer skin came off the hands like a glove, while the legs were much Bcorched, espacially about the kneeH and ankles. On the baok of the left arm there were eight lacerated and oontused wounds, two of them beinx particularly large, exposing lacerated and charred muscles. Cornwall's hair and cutiole were almost removed from the neck and face. The hair on tho head was almost reduced to a charred mafs. There was a lacerated wound on the lip, and others behind and below the left shoulder, and the outer side of the left thigh. Both legs wore much burned and lacerated. Ross was burned as severely aa the others about the face and head, but his arms and hands were worse than those of the other viotims Tho right thumb was torn and the top blown dean off. The left hand was badly lacerated, and there were severe burns about the hip and knees. The severest injnry, however, whioh the poor fellow sustained was a penetrating wound on the abdomen, and it is feared that inflamation of the bowels will be indnoed. Goldio and M'Callum were scorched about the face and arms, but not very severely. The form r came n cross to Wellington by the first trip of the Ellen Ballanae, and went to the Mount Cook Barracks, where his injuries were attended to by Dr. Rawson, who believes hia patient will be able to get about in a few days. M'Cullum oame aoross later on in tho day, after his faoe and arms had been dressed, and was driven to his parents' house at Kaiwarra. Morphia was administered to Cornwall, Densem, and Roes, after their injuries bad been attended to, and the two first mentioned soon fell asleep. Ross, however, did not go off for some hours, Dr. Cahill being afraid to adminster anything like a large doses of the soporifio on account of the severe nature of the poor fellow's injuries. Singular to Bay, the patient had not felt any pair np to the time our reporter left at five o'clock ; but he complained that he was unable to see, and was Dumb in all his limbs. His condition, however, was considered .-o seriousthit the Hon. Mr Seddon, Minister for Defence, who had gone aoross to Shelly Bay at 1.30 o'clock, deemed it advisable to take the unfortunate man's depositions — Ross* hearing was found to be very much impaired, and some little diffionlty was experienced in putting questions to him. When, however, he comprehended what was said he readily made replies, and was able to funish a very intelligible account of the aooident. boss' depositions. Asked by Torpedo-man Trudgeon at the request of Mr. Seddon how the mishap occurred, RO3B eaid— I wa3 soldering the lid of one of the tin oases, whioh wa9 filled with gun cotton— the round tin oases I meanwhen it exploded. I recollect what followed. The explosion blew me across ths workshop. That was the first oharge, and it blew me right on to two or three other tins that were standing there. They began to explode jnst as I landed on them, and they blew me back again -the same way as I came. I was crawling ont when the ones on the end bench were exploding. Mr. Seddon —How do yon aocount for them going off P Ross— The heat of the Bolder bolt did it. Mr. Seddon — Did you put any ashes on top of the gun cotton ? Rosa— George Goldie put them on. Mr. Seddon— Where did he get them from P Ross— Oft the old forge. They were cool enough. Mr. Seddon— How far off the fire were yon when you wore soldering up P Ross— About seven or eight feet. Mr. Seddon -Was the lid on the tin ? Ross-Yes. I was jußt putting the finishing touoh on the top when it exploded in my hands Mr. Seddon— Then how did the heat from the soldering iron affeot the gun cotton ? Robs— l don't know. I had a small bolt. I cannot say how the heat from it got at the gun cotton. Mr. Seddon— Did you say that Goldie took the ashes from the old forge ? Ro3B— Yes, Mr. Seddon— For that particular tin f Eoss— Yes jhe took them from the old forge, and put them on top of the gun cotton. Mr. Seddon— Was there any chance of the fire from the forge getting at the gnu ootton? Robs— No. Mr. Seddon— None whatever ? Ross— No. Mr. Seddon— Do you remember how many of them yon had soldered before ? Ro6B— l was on about the second from the last half. There we; c eight, and I had done five. Mr. Seddon— Had you been doing this kind of work befoie ? RoBS-Yeß. The unfortunate fellow went on to tay :— George Goldie and the Captain made np the last lot. By tha Captain I mean Captain Falooner. It was no fault of Uoldie's, as the tins were standing with the ashes in them for some time before I touched them. If there had been any fira in tha ashes they would have exploded before I touched them. I never liked the job of soldering the tins, for I believed it to be dangerous This I have said to thoße who were working with me. I have never eaid anything to Captain Falooner about it being dangerous. Yes ; I did ask him once about it. He eaid there was no danger if it waa properly and carefully done. Mr. Peddon gave orders that nothing should be left undone to minister to the comfort of the snfferers, and before he returned to town heurranged that Dr. Cahill should remain at the station during the < night. The Minister asked Ross whether

the latter's wife should bo sent for. Robs replied that he would rathor Bho should not visit him, as he was afraid that seeing him in such a Btate wonld prove too great a Bbook for her, as she was in a delicate oondition ; but on second thoughts he requested that she should be sent for. Captain Falconer accordingly came across in the Bteamer at 5 o'clock and conveyed ROS3' message to her and she went over to the bay early in the evening. CAPTAIK FALCONER, as may be euppoaed, is greatly concerned over the sad affair. The acoident. he states, is the first of the kind which has ever ocourred at the station, and he is at a loss to know how it took plaoe. Hot ashes may, he thinks, have been used to cover the gun cotton. The praotice of placing cold ashes over the gun cotton and then soldering on the lids of the canister has been followed, he assures ns, for many years in arsenals at Home, and no accidents have occurred whenever proper precautions have been taken. The object in filling the upper part of tins with ashes is to prevent any of the melted solder from hoating the explosive, and he cannot accept Robs' theory that the heat produced by the soldering iron caused the gun cotton to explode. His opinion is that a complete detonation did not take place in any of tho 0 misters. Had there been a proper detonation in even one of the tins he is oonvinced that the building would have been completely wrecked, and all the men in ib blown to atoms. As it ia the building has sustained comparatively little damage. A hole has beon made in the iron roof, a portion of the rear wall has been blown out, two or three panes of glass have been smashed, and a depression made in the concrete floor. An expenditure of i 32 or £3 will, it is estimated, bo sufficient to effect repairs. When tha explosion took place Captain Falconer waa in his office writing a letter to the Defenoe Office. He had been in the smithy only two or three minutes before he heard the reports, and he was satisfied that the men wero proceeding with their work in the orthodox manner. We understand that an enquiry into the cause of the acoident is to be held by the Defence authorities. Rosb, it may be explained, is the father of two children who were dreadfully burned at Mitoheltown about two years ago. One auooumbed to the injurios, and the other lost a band. Ross, Cornwall, and Densem, passed a fairly good night The first mentioned, although fearfully injured, is muoh better to-day than had been anticipated, and he may recover. Dr. Cahill waa with him all the night, and early this morning Dr. Collin3 went across in the rillen BiUance and assisted in operating upon the abdominal wound. Two trained nurses were sent across this afternoon, and both will remain at the barraokß until the men are out of danger. Dr. Cahill returned to town this morning, but will go across to the barracks again to-night. We are informed that in searching the smithy this morning four tobacco pipea were picked up. One of them was recognised as having belonged to Ross, and it is surmised that smoking must have been going on when the tins were being filled. Captain Falooner thinks that there is now no reason to doubt that the accidont waR oaueed through the carelessness of one at least of the men. Smoking emongßt the explosives is strictly forbidden, bat thero is, in Captain Falooner's opinion, every reaaon for believing that the rulQ was infringed yeaterday morning.