EXPLOSION ON BOARD AN AUCKLAND PINNACE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5826, 28 October 1879, Page 3

EXPLOSION ON BOARD AN AUCKLAND PINNACE.

The Auckland Star of Oct. 18, gives the following account of the recent explosion Last evening the usual gun practice of the Naval Brigade, took place under Captain Leßoy and Sub-Lieutenant Parker. About forty men, together with their commanders* embarked in their pinnace, but we are sorry to say the cruise was attended with unfortunate results, for an explosion occurred on. board, by which several of the men were injured. On board the -pinnace there was one of the old-fashioned 3-pounder carronades, weighing probably about three hundred weight, The men began to load this, but do what they would they could not ram the charge home. After several ineffectual attempts to accomplish the task, the order was given to draw the cartridge. This being accomplished, the extractor was inserted m the gun but nothing was discovered. A small amount of gunpowder was then put in the vent and was let off- No success attended this result, however, and the pinnace wae rowed ashore, where the gun was again examined, This time the examination proved successful, for on the gun being “bumped” on the ground a small hand grenade rolled out of it. This being round, the extractor would not grip. It is supposed that during the winter, when the gun has been in the shed, someone put the hand grenade in the gun, and allowed it to roll down into the breach. The cruise was again continued,, and the gun discharged, aad after the third round, the boat being on the wind, the wadding from the gun blew back into the boat, and falling on to the gunpowder in the bottom created the explosion. It is thought that when the cartridge was drawn at the commencement of the cruise, the extractor broke the covering, and the powder escaping, strewed the bottom and became ignited in the manner we have described. The explosion injured several men, and quite a panic was created, the cries of the* wounded men adding to the confusion. Somo of the volunteers jumped overboard, and, but for the coolness of the officers, -nearly all would have done the same. One man, who could not swim, forgot the circumstance, and in jumping over the side would have been drowned had it not been for Seaman Moore’s rescuing the man from becoming food for Davy Jones’ locker. Several ships in harbour came and offered assistance. The men were taken ashore and attended by Drs Wright, Kenderdine, andßayntun. They were found to be burned, although not seriously. One poor fellow named Jones could not walk, and was carried to his home in Freeman’s Bay, where he was attended by Dr Bayntun. The other men injured are Seamen Bryan, Boloman and Waite. It is expected that a Government inquiry will be held on the matter. This afternoon the men were progressing favourably.