ENVELOPED IN FLAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 16

ENVELOPED IN FLAME

YOUNG MAN'S FATE BLASTING POWDER IGNITED CARRYING BOX PAST FIRE [IBUM OUB OWN COBBESFONDKXT] HAMILTON, Tuesday Unusual circumstances connected with the death of Jack Godwin Knight, aged 21, single, were revealed at the inquest held before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., coroner, to-day. Deceased died in the Waikato Hospital from burns received at Tauwhare on October 14. Evidence was given by Austin Henry Knight that he and his brother had been employed in splitting posts for the Waikato Land Settlement Society. Deceased picked up a box containing 71b. of blasting powder with the intention of removing it to a place of safety. As deceased passed a small.open fire used for lighting fuses, 20ft. away from the posts, a stream of powder fell into the fire. The whole box ignited and deceased was enveloped in a sheet of flame. He was burned from head to foot, his singlet being destroyed. The injured man was attended to by Dr. H. Douglas, of Hamilton, and was brought in by him to the Waikato Hospital, where he died this morning. Deceased was the son of Mr. H. W. Knight, of Ellerslie. The inquest was adjourned owing- to the hospital doctor's absence.