THE EXPLOSION ON THE ARAMAC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9293, 31 August 1893, Page 5

THE EXPLOSION ON THE ARAMAC.

At tho trial of the man Howard, charged with having caused the explosion on board the steamer Aramac, of the A. U.S. Company's line, which took place at Brisbane on the 23rd instant, Robert Fitzpatrick gave evidence that ho was in charge of a gang of men at the Milson's Point railway works, Sydney, when defendant introduced himself as the secretary of a labour union. The defendant asked if there was any objection to be shown the magazine, and how blasting charges were prepared. Witness said, "No, so long; as you do not smoke." Defendant said, " I will not smoke," and accompanied witness to the magazine. In defendant's presence witness unlocked the box, soaked the. rackarock, and prepared the charges, which consisted of rackarock, nitro-gelatine, dynamite, and detonators and fuse. While witness was preparing the charge the defendant asked the names of the materials used, and which of them was ho most dangerous. He told him blasting powder. Then the defendant wanted to know tho reason why, and he told him that dynamite was harmless and could be put in the fire, the only danger with it being when the detonator was attached, bub with blasting powder the least least spark ignited. The defendant remained in the magazine the whole of tho afternoon from 1.30 till (J. In attaching the fuse to tho detonators witness cub some lengths of the fuse longer than others, and the defendant wanted to know why this was done. He explained that it was to allow time for escape. He was engaged in blasting rocks at the time, and the defendant asked him to light a piece 0/ fuse to show him how long it would take to burn. This was done, and finally they loft tho magazine. He then loaded charges in the rock, and exploded them in the presence of the defendant, aftor the men had left off work. Defendant then asked for a bit of dynamite while he was returning his tools to the magazine, bub he replied, " No, it is more than my situation is worth." The defendant then offered to pay for ib, bub he again refused. On the next day when he wenb to work' by the track ho saw a sugar bag partly concealed, which ho examined, and found to contain a box, a knife, a dynamite cartridge, two coils of fuse, one and a-half box of detonators, and 11 cartridges of rackarock. He identified the same as his employer's property. The rackarock in the bag had been prepared by him on the previous day. Later on ho found that the sheet of iron covering the magazine had been removed, and on examination he missed a box of dynamite cartridges, rackarock, and a coil of fuse. The defendant called on witness and asked him howhe gob on with the books, and if ho had gob any members, and he told him he had gob four members and could got some more next day. Tho defendant again asked for somo dynamite, and he asked him what he wanted it for. The defendant then replied, "To make an example of some plutocrats and doublebreasted parasites." Witness told him he was foolish, and it would bo tho means of leading lain to the gallows, but defendant said there would bo 110 one in ib but himself. Subsequently Howard again approached the witness, who had met with an accident, and offered to pay him to go to the works and procure some of the explosives to which ho turned a deaf ear. The case was to be resumed on the 30th inst.