A COURAGEOUS ACT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1180, 1 December 1924, Page 4

A COURAGEOUS ACT.

MT. EDEN QUARRY EXPLOSION. THREE MEN RESCUE COMPANION. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. The splendid courage exhibited by three employees of the City Council at the Mount Eden quarry on November 12, when a quarrying!!, Ur R. J. Hawkee, lost Ills left hand "and one of his eyes through an explosion of gelignite, was reported to the City Council last evening. The accident <*ud investigated by the assistant city engineer, Mr J. Tyler, and although it -was impossible to state _ the exact cause of the explosion, the inquiries revealed tiiat the injured man was lighting; a series of shots by means of a piece of gelignite burning on the end of a piece of wire. 'I he gelignite having burned out, it is presumed he placed another piece on the hot wire, and this immediately exploded. The three men, Messrs T..’Mulliolland, W. Friar and E. Roberts, ran back ft distinco of 60 yards, picked up the injured man, and carried him to safety, well knowing that 16 fusee were all burning and that explosions must take place within a few, seconds.. Indeed, some shots, actually did go oil before the men reached safety. The Works Committee of the council recommended that a suitable presentation to the value of £lO each be made to these three men at the meeting of the council on Dec-ember 18.

The council heartily approved this suggestion, members referring to the courage and self-sacrifice of the three men.