POWDER EXPLODES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23280, 24 February 1939, Page 10

POWDER EXPLODES

FARMER SEVEREDY BURNED CONTENTS OF POCKET IGNITE ACCIDENT NEAR TAURANGA [by teltitkaph—OWN correspondent] TAURANGA, Thursday An explosion of blasting powder at Welcome Bay, near Tauranga, resulted in a well-known farmer, Mr. George Dunton, being badly burned on the face and body and the left hand and arm. Mr. Dunton had been engaged during the afternoon blasting some logs. He returned to the house between ffiur and five o'clock carrying a bag containing about 51b. of blasting powder in his left hand. In his left-hand trouscr pocket ho had a small quantity of sodium chlorate and a box of safety matches.

He stopped near the back door to speak to Mrs. Dunton and while he was there the sodium chlorate and the matches apparently caught fire by spontaneous combustion. This ignited the powder, which exploded. Mr. Dunton's clothing caught fire, but assistance was promptly given by Mrs. Dunton and others on the scene. Dr. Mark was summoned and ordered Mr. Dunton's removal to hospital. Another man standing beside Mr. Dunton was not affected by the explosion, nor was Mrs. Dunton. Tho sight of Mr. Dunton's left eye has been endangered by the accident, and his left hand, which caught the full porce of the exploding powder, was very severely burned.