Mining Accident.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1580, 11 March 1887, Page 2

Mining Accident.

On Wednesday morning about half-past one o'clock two brothers named respectively William and Hemy Broad, who were working in the north drive of the Phoenix Extended, Skippers Beefs, on the night shift, were seriously injured by an explosion of gelatine. It appears that they were working alone on the night shift, and they had charged three holes and fired them, before crib or supper time. They say that they heard three distinct reports. After they went l>ack to work they found that two shots had done their work, but that one hole had only blown out the tamping. They commenced to work and drilled two more holes, ami then thought they would deepen the hole that had not done its work, but after they had struck two or three blows with the hammer upon the drill, what must have been the remains of the gelatine left in the hole, suddenly exploded. Henry Bioad, who was turning the drill with his left hand, had that member and arm cut and bruised a good deal, but not to any serious extent. William, however, who was striking, received the full force of the explosion in his face a good deal, but the worst of his injuries is about the eyes. At first it was thought that both eyes were destroyed, but fortunately only one of them is seriously injured, and !)r Douglas, upon examining them, is hopeful that he will recover his si-.-ht. The men are hopeful and cheerful and do not blame anyone in anyway. Henry Broad was rendered insensible, but his brother William, although totally blinded, managed to crawl out of the drive on his hands and kuees and made his way up to the manager's house and gave the alarm. He was a pitiful sight with his face cut and covered in blood, but there was soon plenty of assistance from their mates with whem they are general favorites. The men were at once conveyed to the Frank ton Hospi'al. and are now under the skilful hands of Dr Douglas who is assiduous in his attention to the wounded men. As previously remarked no blame can be attached lo anyone, for the accident happened under most extraordinary circumstances, of which we have never before heard an instance, namely, that the charge of gelatine, which is 50 per cent more powerful than dynamite, only partially exploded.