FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION AT MORT'S DRY DOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 444, 15 April 1865, Page 5

FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION AT MORT'S DRY DOCK.

THREE MEN KILLED AND SIX DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED. (From the Sydiity Empire, March 29.) Ye.-teupay morning, about half-past ten, a terrific explosion took place at the Dry Dock in Watrrviciv Bav, by which three persons were killed and six dangerously wounded. It appears that steam was got up vestcrdav morning for the purpose of pumping out. the dock ; the steamship Otago having been taken in for the purpose of being cleaned and painted. The caisson at. the mouth of the dock was shut down, when the machinery was put in motion, and the pumping had just commenced, when the leather belt ran oil' the wheel. Mr. Yt'ardrop, the engineer, at once stopped the engine, and ordered one of V's men (Etall) to adjust the belt on the wheel, and requested another (Craig) to stand by the safety valve while these orders were being curried out. At that moment, without any previous indication or seeming cause, an awful explosion took plaee, creating til J most fearful havoc, and in an instant, laying the premises in one mass of ruins. The 'argo boiler, which weighs six or seven tons, was drive.i in a straight direction through Messrs. P. N. Russell and Co.'s engineering works, and deposited at a distance of about 100 T»rds from where it, exploded, while he end which was blown out was driven some 200 yards in an opposite direction to the boiler. The boiler in its passage through the engineering works, killed Joseph Porter and John G-ordon, while Mr. Craig (fireman), must haro met with instantaneous death. There were two boilers in the building, and they wero built round with bricks. The building wus of wood, and was scattered into fragments by the concussion, and the other boiler was much displaced. It is said that upon the explosion taking place, the boiler passed through the engineering works, aud was there deposited before the report was heard. The workmen immediately proceeded to rescue the bodies of the dead and wounded from the ruins. Some of the bodies wero so frightfully mutilated that they could scarcely be recognised. The'following is a list of the killed and wounded:— In Messrs. Russell and Co.'s employ— Killed.

Joseph Porter, engineer's apprentice, skull fractured, scalded, and otherwise injured. John Gordon, turner, lower part of body smashed ; scalded, and bruised. Leaves a wif© and two children. In Mr. Cuthbert's employ — Craig, firoman, leg blown off, and eo disfigured that ha can only be recognised by bis hands. Leaves a wife and two children. WOUNDED. John Phillips, scalp wound, and severely injured; George Phillips, fracture of leg, also scalded and bruised ; George MeNicol, skull fractured dangerously ; David Miller, scalded and bruised. Mr. NVardrop, engineer in charge, scalp wound; also, scalded and bruised. W. Hoar, shoemaker, who was passing when the explosion occurred, shoulder fractured.