THE TIPTON EXPLOSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18514, 27 March 1922, Page 5

THE TIPTON EXPLOSION.

CHARGES OF MANSLAUGHTER. CASE AGAINST KNOWLES AND CHADWICK. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 24. The case against Knowles and Chadwick in connection with the Tipton explosion is based on the ground that the Home Office was not aware that Knowles was going to break up cartridges, for which operation he had no permit. He had entirely neglected the provisions of the Explosives Act. As the first witness was called, a woman in court screamed. She had just been informed that her daughter (a victim of the explosion) was dead.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ASTONISHING REVELATIONS. LONDON, March 25. (Received March 26, at 5.5 p.m.) Astonishing revelations are being made in connection with the Tipton explosion. The chief inspector of explosives gave evidence that the floor of the shop was of concrete but was impregnated with gunpoowder. The girls wore boots with nails. The atmosphere was permeated with dust from the powder. Other evidence showed that there was no guard in front of the stove, which was used for soldering purposes, and burning coke constantly dropped on the floor. At the end of a day’s work there would be in each box which 24 ,girls used 361 b of loos'e powder. A boy took this powder and put it into a neighbouring canal. —A. and N.Z. Cable. [The Port Tipton explosion occurred aobut three weeks ago. Some 50 girls were engaged removing the contents of 160 tons of cartridges and placing them in a separate receptacle. The floor was strewn with powder, and when the explosion took place the girls were trapped in a raging inferno., The total deaths numbered _ 18. A later message reported a sensational development, Knowles, husband of the factory owner, and Chadwick, the manager, being charged with manslaugher.]