THE HUTT TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1914, Page 8

THE HUTT TRAGEDY

In connection with the tragic fire at Upper Hutt on Saturday night Mr. Pratt, who received a cut on the temple in the explosion, was seen by the reporter at his residence. Naturally he is completely prostrated by the catastrophe and is confined to his bed. He was asked if he could advance any theory as to the cause, and whether there i were any explosives on the premises. There might have been a, ixmnd or two of blasting powder in the bottom of one of the kegs, he said, but. ho did not think there was more. There were two or three empty kegs which ha-d contained blasting powder. His firm could not stock much of the explosive, as it was only kept for the com venience of customers who wanted to blast tree stumps. The powder was kept upstairs in a Btore room, where raisins, currants, mechanical toys, and other goods were slocked. He was absolutely at a loss to account for the origin of the explosion. Any little blasting powder there might have been in stock would be rough powder, as raek-a-rock and other patent explosives were not stocked. The firm had occupied the premises for four years, and he thought it was extremely unlikely that any explosives had been left, there by the previous occupiers. THE INJURED MEN. Mr. James Hagan, one of the three men now in Wellington Hospital, is about 52 years of age, and is on the Defence Department Btatf. He has lived in the Hutt Valley for a eonsiderablepenod, and since 1906 has been caretaker of the Trentham Rifle Range. He is a. member of the local School Committee. His wjfe was caterer for the men who took part in the recent Dominion ritltj meeting. There is a largo family, some, members of which have refreshment rooms at the Upper Hntt. Mr. Virgil M'Govern, also in the Hospital, is a son of the late Mr. Francis M'Goveni, who kept hotels at Kaiw&ira, Taita, and Trentham at different times. He is a single man, about 35 years of age and very popular in the Upper Hutt district. His mother and sister live in the district. He completed his education at St. Patrick's College. On Wednesday last he was elected a member of the Upper Hutt Town Board in succession to Mr. N. J. Bennington, resigned. His recovery is only regarded as a matter of time. Everard Edward Henry Felling, whose condition is serious, and who was removed to the Hospital soon after he met with his injuries, is eighteen years of age, and a son of Mr. Edward Pelling, well known in Rugby football circles in past years. He is a blacksmith by trade, and an enthusiastic footballer. It is feared that he has sustained a fracture of the base of the skull. Mr. Thomas Costello, whose Bide and one of his legs are injured, is a married man, and has been employed for the past thtee months as a shunter at the Upper Hutt railway etatipn. He is under treatment at his own) home. Mr. Herbert Collett, chairman of theUpper Hutt branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, one of whose' legs ib hurt .(ho also sustained a scalp wound), is lying at his ownhfcme. He has been in the railway service for many years. Another railway servant who its hurt is Mr. Herbert Weaver. He is suffering from shock, and also from injuries to his legs. Mr. C. D. Morpeth, who was cut about the head, wus well enough to be driven from his residence to'tlay to havo his injuries attended to. THE INSURANCES. The insurances on the principal buildings destroyed or bcriously damaged in the appalling calamity at Upper Hutt on Saturday night, are as follows— Messrs. Beiige and Pratt's building (owned by Mr. W. J. Wilkie. of Upper Hutt) was insured in tho Commercial Union olHce for £275. Tho stock was insured for £1800 in the Guardian office. Mr, Benge estimates tho value of tho stock at £2800. Mr. llazlewood's drapery store, totally destroyed, owned by Messrs. Haalowood and Co.. was insured in the Alliance office for £900, and the stock and furniture for £1800 in the Alliance. Tho Provincial Hotel was damaged, chiefly by the force oi' tho explosion, windows being smashed and the eon tents of rooms broken. The building it. owned by Messrs. Staples and Co., and insured with the Atlao oHice for £2700 and the outbuildings in the same officefor £530. The 'stock mid furniture, owned by the licensee, are . insured in the Liverpool. London, and Globe ofnee for t £1000. The amount of damage, which is considerable, has not been estimated. THE FUNERALS. The funerals, of the late Messrs. James Comesky, Dennis Mahoney. William Flynn, and Michael Toolißy, will leave the Courthouse. Upper Hutt. to-morrow morning at 10.15 o'clock fov St. Joseph's, where High Mass will be celebrated. Thi\ funeral of the late Mr. W. G. Taylor will leave his father's residence) Mairu road, Upper Hutt, at 2.45 p.m. tomorrow for the Wnllaceville churchyard. All the police available will attend the funeral of Constable Mahoney. and there promises to be a very Urge muster. Arrangements are in bond to miketho fuiierals' of a public nature. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M,P. for Uiq Hutt, who was early on the rcene, conaiders that prompt slept? should betaken to assist the widows and children, ami he has sent v telegram as follows to tho Prime Minister :-- "Trust that yon will urpo Cabinet lo tis.Mt-t tho widows and children of thiw who h ;i vo lost thea< lives in trying to at>ai«t, tiihets and in, canning ouL & f.ublic duty."