HEAD BLOWN OFF

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6994, 7 December 1909, Page 7

HEAD BLOWN OFF

SHOCKING FATALITY AT PALMEESTON. *ROM OUIt OWN CORRESPONDENT. PALMERSTON, December 6. An acetylene gag explosion with. grueisomo results occurred here on. Saturday evening, whereby a fourteen-year-old boy aamed Edward Mundy. son of Mr James Mimdy, bootmaker, mot death. The hoy had a tarn for mechanics, and had just completed an. acetylene gas generator for giving light to a small cinematograph, which he possessed. The generator was constructed out of am oil drum and fitted loosely inside a small tank filled with water. Young Mundy and sal elder brother were attempting to light the gafl jet, and had failed half a dozen times, when the explosion occurred. The unfortunate youth was leaning over tho generator, evidently examining tho taps, and received the full force of the explosion in tho face. The top of tho oil drum blew out with terrific force, and catching him near the eyes, out tho top of his head clean off. It also broke his arm. Death was almost instantaneous. Tho elder brother had a miraculous escape, getting a nasty wound on his right land as the oil drum went skywards. The inquest was held to-day, but no right was thrown on the oauso of tho explosion. A verdict of death from an accidental explosion of acotyleno gas was returned.