TERRIBLE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6271, 22 December 1881, Page 5

TERRIBLE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN" COURTIS PON" DENT.] Wellington, Wadnesday. A shocking occurrence took place this evening, by which a lady was literally blown to pieces, and a building partially wrecked. The facts are as follow :—At the shop of Mr. Barraud, chemist, Lambton Quay, some blue fire was in course of preparation for use of the theatre. On testing a small portion of the mixture, it was found dangerously explosive, too much chlorate of potash having been inadvertently used in the composition. Accordingly Mr. Barnaul's assistant, Mr. Antliony (formerly of Christ-church) took it out in a back yard, and began to destroy it by slow combustion. He had occasion to leave for an instant, and before he could return his wife happened to go into the yard, and seeing the chemicals on the fire, at once threw a bucket of water on the burning mass. A terrific explosion immediately took place, which shook the whole city, and was heard at a distance of some miles. Poor Mrs. Anthony received the full force of the shock, and was frightfully mutilated. Both arms were torn oft", also one leg, the lower jaw, aud the scalp. Wonderful to relate she still (9 p.m.) lingers, but is momentarily expected to breathe her last. All the windows in the vicinity were smashed, and other damage done. The stone mortar in •which the composition had been mixed was hurled many feet into the air, and sent flying clear over the tops of the houses into the next street. Fortunately nobody else was injured. The dreadful occurrence created a profound sensation in the city. [EY TELEGJUPH. —FKBS3 ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. A dreadful accident occurred on Lambton Quay this evening. At 7-15 p.m. a loud explosion was heard, and it was discovered that some blue fire composition in the rear of Messrs. Barraud and Son's chemist shop had exploded. Mrs. Anthony, wife of the manager of the business, who was iu the yard with a little boy three years old, received terrible injuries. Botli hands are blown off close below the elbow, the right leg is broken below her knee, aud the jaw is broken, besides the face fearfully cut and gashed. She was taken inside, and medical aid obtained. The several injuries were attended to, after which the poor sufferer was taken to the hospital, but no hopes at all are entertained of her recovery. The child fortunately escaped with a fewslight bruises. Mr. Anthony and others in the shop are at a loss to account for the explosion. They had been making blue-fire composition during the afternoon, and found it to be dangerous, as some of it exploded, and singed the hair of an assistant. About half a pound of the mixture was left in the mortar, and Mrs. Anthony had suggested that the best means of getting rid of it would be to wash out the mortar with water, and it is thought by many that she was in the act of doing this when the explosion occurred. The report was heard fully half-a-inile away. The mortar was shattered to atoms, fragments being found at a distance of 100 yards. The affair has caused great excitement in town, and much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Anthony. 10.30 p.m. DEATH OF MRS. ANTHONY. Mrs. Anthony died at the Hospital at 9 o'clock this evening.