FATAL EXPLOSION

Evening Star, Issue 19001, 24 July 1925, Page 8

FATAL EXPLOSION

COUNTY SURFACEMAN KILLED WARDING GELIGNITE OVER FIRE At Kaka Point, near Port Molyneux, yesterday afternon, an explosion of gelignite caused the death of Frederick Oliver Bates, aged fifty-four, a surfaceman employed by the Clutna County Council. Tbc unfortunate man was working on the road near M'Keebnie’s store. There is a small cpiarry bandy, and during the 1 ntsell hour, while the other workmen were absent, deceased collected a {(iiantity of gelignite, which had frozen hard through tlie cold weather, and was warming it over a fire in the open when the explosion occurred. He was badly mutilated about the bead and shoulders, and his right hand was practically blown off. No one witnessed the accident. His son, aged about sixteen, was witli him prior to the adjournment for lunch, but was working further along the road when the explosion actually occurred. Death occurred in twenty-five minutes. Drs Slenhon.se and Radcliffe went fiom Ba.lclut.hn- immediately after tlie accident had been reported, hut on their arrival found that Bates had expired some time, previously. They removed the body to the house of Miss Bates, a sister of deceased. Deceased was well known and very popular in tho district. He was a son of the late Samuel Bates, one of tho pioneers of Kaka. Point, lie leaves a, uithnv and a family of four. The eldest. Aliss Eva Bales, is a senior secondary pupil at the Balclutha. District High School. An inquest was to.be opened to-day.