SENSATIONAL HOAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 10

SENSATIONAL HOAX.

A MYTHICAL EXPLOSION. MEN REPORTED KILLED. RANGITOTO PRISON QUARRY. FALSE REPORT IN CITY. A sensational hoax was perpetrated in Auckland yesterday afternoon. It was reported that a serious explosion had occurred at the Prisons Department quarry at Rangitoto Island, and that two men had been killed and four injured. There being no communication with the island, except by signal, three hours elapsed before the story could be fully investigated and finally disproved. The first intimation was received by telephone at Mount Eden gaol shortly after mid-day, the message stating there had been a serious accident in blasting operations, involving death or injury to several persons. The informant said he was speaking from Mount Victoria signal station. He further stated a doctor had gone out in a launch from Devonport. Little time was wasted by officials at the gaol in making all preparations for the transportation of the dpad and injured on arrival in the city. The police and St. John Ambulance were communicated with and all was ready in quick time. Large Crowd Assembles. Meanwhile, rumours of the accident had circulated in the city, and shortly after 1 o'clock a crowd commenced to gather near the private launch steps at Queen's Wharf. Two ambulances • were placed near the steps and a police van also made its appearance. In order to keep back the crowd a space was roped in at the head of the steps. This space was reserved for the privileged—the superintendent of the gaol and warders, a sergeant of police and two constables, several Harbour Board officials and men of the St. John Ambulance staff. Outside the enclosure, the crowd clustered in large numbers. All were on the . * - ■» tip-toe of excitement and waitea expectantly for the coming of the launch which was to bring the men. A Lengthy Vigil. Heavy ram fell, but the crowd did not waver. A shuffling of feet and anxious glances—still the vigil was kept. The arrival of a mortuary van served only to tighen pent-up nerves and to strengthen suppressed feeling. By 2.30 the crowd was beginning to feel the strain of watching and, when a heavy shower set in, there was a rush tor the shelter of the wharf. However, there was no relaxation of the watch, and whenever a launch pushed its nose past the end of Central Wharf there was a rush toward the steps. Doubt regarding the authenticity of the story began to enter the minds of the gathering. It was learned the Mount Victoria station had reported it had received no message from Rangitoto Island. Reports were received from Devonport to the effect that the men w r ho had gone out to the Harbour Board quarry on the island to pay the employees had returned professing ignorance of any untoward occurrence. Isolation of Eangitoto. With the feeling that there still might be something in the story, the crowd refused to depart. The ambulance and the police were still on the scene. The first definite news of the falsity of the rumours came with the return ofv a launch chartered to make the trip to the island. Reluctantly, the people began to disperse. A few lingered, awaiting the movements of the ambulances and the police van. However, these left shortly before 4 o'clock. The credence which was given to the story would undoubtedly have been shortlived but for the fact that there is' no telephonic communication between the island and the city. Rangitoto is practically isolated, and any message that has to be forwarded goes by signal. This leaves the way open for such practical jokes as the one practised yesterday. •