SHOCKING TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 14

SHOCKING TRAGEDY

SHELL EXPLODES,

LORRY DRIVER INCINERATED LONDON, Jan. 6. Loaded with shells filled with explosive mnttor a motor lorry was speeding from Birmingham to London when, at midnight, i>t crashed down a 12ft. embankmont at Hockliffo, Bedfordshire, Tho explosives foil on tho hot radiator and a terrific explosion rent tho air. The lorry was quickly cnvolopod in a mass of flames and despite the valiant efforts of other lorry-drivers, >tho driver George Rivetts, was incinerated. Pinned underneath the blazing wreck Rivetts made pathetic appeals for help. “I’m burning, I’m burning,” he cried, ' COMRADES DARE FLAMES His lorry was a leading one of a convoy which was conveying shells to Woolwich Arsenal. Daring the flames, tho cither drivers immediately made efforts to lever up the lorry, but wero quickly driven back. Tlio shells contained phosphorous, and a continuous stream of flying explosives, resembling machine gun fire kept the rescuers at bay. Many of them suffered severe burns and one named Wagstaff bravely kept at the task until ho was rendered unconscious. His clothes bad ignited, and his mates rolled him in a snowdrift. While the police were conveying him and two other injured men 20 miles to hospital, it was necessary frequently to douch them with water to prevent the phosphorous compound from lighting up again. One of the men had a hole the size of a shilling piece burn* through the cheek. All are now recovering. VILLAGERS USE BUCKETS Villagers who flocked to the scene of the tragedy endeavoured to extinguish tho flames with buckets of water; but they, too, were driven back by the incessant explosions. The Evening News says that the shells were not ammunition, but were loaded with explosives to be used in the manufacture of matches.