AN EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1935, Page 6

AN EXPLOSION

FARMHOUSE WRECKED WHOLE FAMILY INJURED (Per Press Association, Copyright). FIELDING, July 1-2. Through an explosion of gelignite, a whole family of seven people were sent to DBfpital, and a house was compete!)’ -wrecked on the Halcombe-Stanway road at 7.45 a.in. Frank Cowdrey (32) a farmer, during stumping operations this morning, placed 50 plugs of gelignite in the kitchen'oven to warm. Edward Rctbinson (18) an employee, warned Cowdrey of the dangerous risk, but Cowdrey said it would not go off.' Three minutes later, while the family were at breakfast round the kitchen table, there was a terrific explosion. Robinson told the police afterwards that his chair and the floor, were blown from under him. He staggered outside dazed, and then returned to find all the children, Maurice (9), Severely (6), Nita (3), Raymond Davis (9). and a brother of Mis Cowdrey, with the fattier -and mother lying bn the floor. He took out the children. The mother was able to walk out herself, but- the father was too injured to help himself. The house caught fire, and -Robinson went back and extinguished this A! later investigation by a doctor and police showed the whole of the occupants were more or less serious .V injured, though no life was lost. Al were taken to the hospital. The kitchen table was blown, to solinto.rs, one wall was blown out, and tlic whole house practically wreckefl. Robinson, who is a relative of Cowdrey only joined the family yesterday. (Cowdrey was warned when putting gelignite into the oven to warm it that there might be danger, but he replied that everyhing was all right. The explosive was only in the oven for from three to five minutes when there was a terrific blast, and the wlio<c place was .'wrecked. JThe roof was blown off, the side of the bouse blown out, the inner walls smashed to pieces, the chimney completely wrecked. tlie kitchen stove blown to pieces, and the kitchen floor shattered. It 'is reported that Mi" ajnd Airs Cowdrey and the youngest child are seriously hurt. Other .members of the family are suffering from cuts, bruises, and shock.