EXPLOSION AT NAPIER

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1923, Page 3

EXPLOSION AT NAPIER

ONE MAN DEAD, OTHERS INJURED

TOWN SHAKEN AS BY AN EARTH QUAKE,

(BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ,NAPIER, Ist November. While moving some cylinders containing dissolved acetylene on Jull Wharf about 2 o'clock this afternoon a man accidentally allowed one to strike another with some force, and the result was a violent explosion of the falling cylinder, which caused severe injuries to seven men, one of whom has since died. The names of those injured are as follow :—• Archibald Sporle, carrier (extensive burns, as a result of which he died this evening). Benjamin B. Creagh, forwarding agent and carrier, and a member of the Harbour Board (burned about the face, hands, and arms). A. Sterm, watersider (severely burned about the head, neck, and arms). Walter Tirrell, watersider (head, arms, neck, legs, and back burned).' . Edward Fredericks, watersider (head arms, and shoulder burned). ' Henry Smith, Harbour Board employee (less severe burns). Samuel Martin (less severe burns). | All the injured, except Martin, were taken to the hospital. Several other men were in the vicinity at the time of the explosion, and were knocked off their feet. A. Lauriston is suffering from , shock. Mr. Sporle was twenty-four years of age, is married, and has two young children. He ,is a son of R. Sporle, of Feilding, and 'Mrs. Sporle, of Napier. It is generally considered cylinders such as the one which exploded are not dangerous, and require no padding on the exterior; therefore it is impossible io determine how the explosion was caused. Only the cap of the cylinder was found. The gas exploded with terrific noise, and shook the buildings within a fairly wide radius to such an extent that some thought it was an earthquake. Flames blacked the side of Messrs Richardson and Co.'s steamer Ripple^ and burned the canvas on the bridge. A shed on the wharf was charred badly on one side. Sacks of hides on the wharf nearby caught fire, and a hose had to be used. ■ The removal of a thousand cases of benzine from the Ripple had only just been completed a few minutes before the explosion. It is the .first accident of the kind that has happoned in New-Zealand.