DISASTROUS EXPLOSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13782, 22 June 1908, Page 6

DISASTROUS EXPLOSIONS.

THREE MEN KILLED NEAR . NEWCASTLE. A MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE. ■ • [FROM our OWN COKRKSrONDEST.] Sydney, June 17. A shocking accident occurred on Monday j afternoon in Cabbage Tree Bay. about seven miles from Newcastle. A gang of four men from the explosive magazine hulk were engaged burying a quantity of condemned gunpowder on a mud flat along the river, ami about 1000 yds from the magazine, when some of the powder exploded. Two men, James Brown and Robert Fountain, were killed instantaneously,, a. third, Fernandez Zoppi, was so injured that he lias since died, whilst the fourth. ] Robert Crockett, was very seriously hurt, j but. hopes are entertained of his recovery. j Speculation respecting the cause of the I accident has been freely indulged in, but I the whole occurrence is clouded in mystery, as the ouiv person who might know any- j thing about Robert Crockett—now lies in a critical condition in the hospital. A shovel was found near the spot where some of the powder was deposited, .and it is believed that one of the men tried to prize open a case of powder with it, thus generating a spark which ignited the powder. Most of the explosive was what is known,' as /•canister powder," and was enclosed in tins, and these were packed in cases. A quantity was*also in bags. Much of it had been condemned .and was being destroyed tc make room for a fresh, consignment. The method of destruction employed was to distribute the powder along a , trench which had been dug below high- j water mark, cover it, and allow the tides to wash it ci way. . "■■'■ j A Her the work of placing the powder in the trenches had been going on for some time, the explosion occurred, and as soon as the smoke cleared away, the few people in the vicinity hastened tc the spot. A terrible sight met their 'eyes. Crockett was found on his hands and knees, in a- dazed condition, and utterly unable to give any explanation regarding the explosion. The body of Robert Foun-, tain was charred from head to foot and dreadfully mutilated.. The body of James Brown was 100 yds from the spot where the explosion occurred, and the head and upper part of the body were so blackened and disfigured as to render them unrecognisable. Zoppi, who was an Italian, was lying torn and bleeding, and has since died in the hospital. A Government launch in the vicinity was at once used to convey the injured and dead to the city. All the unfortunate men were married with the exception of one, Brown. A Melbourne telegram reports that two men were seriously hurt and three others injured in an explosion which occurred in the incline shaft of the Long Tunnel mine. Walhalla, yesterday morning. The dayshift bored a round of 24 holes, and when they were fired there were some miss-holes. The afternoon shift ->£ five men—James Kerr, William Smith, John Reynolds, and Robert McGuire, in charge of George Finlayson (brother to the; underground manager)proceeded to work at the usual time. J. Kerr and W. Smith were chawing the charges when an explosion took place. All the men were more or less injured, but Kerr and Smith received the full force of the explosion. McGuire was comparatively unhurt, and procured assistance, and the injured men were brought to the surface. Smith received bad injuries to the abdomen, and it is feared some "tone has perforated his intestines. Kerr has received injuries to the lower part of hie body, and his head, neck, and upper part of his body also show- severe injuries. His right hand is nearly severed at the wrist. This was only his second shift in the mine. Finlavson was also badly injured. Reynolds escaped with Severn ruts about the right side of the face l and head. .