THE DUNBACK EXPLOSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19136, 2 April 1924, Page 3

THE DUNBACK EXPLOSION

INQUEST ON THE VICTIMS A FURTHER ADJOURNMENT The adjourned inquest into the deaths of William Ernest Cox, Dunback, and David Edward McMillan, of Waitati, which occurred as the result of an explosion m a- quarry at the Milburn Lime and Cement Company’s kilns at Dunback on March 11, was continued at Palmerston yesterday before Mr H, W. Bundle. S.M.. silting as coroner. Sergeant Dunlop conducted the proceedings for the police, Mr B. S. Irwin appeared on behalf of the relatives of the deceased Cox, and Mr C. J. Payne represented the Milburn Lirrte and Cement Company.

Alexander Whitley (Inspector Mines) said that he had visited the' scene of the accident and had made a thorough inspection From the quarry face to the back of the jig stand, where the men took shelter, the distance was ICOft. When the signal to fire was given the - safety zone would have been behind this stand, which was a solid concrete block 9ft Kim on the surface and lift, high. From his own knowledge of the locality witness would consider it a safe position to take up. To Mr Irwin: Ho did not think there was any chance of the debris from the explosion falling behind the jig wheel stand. Robert MTntosh (manager of the mine kilns at Dunbc#k), said he held a manager s or service foreman’s permit under the Quarries Act, and similar pcrmits_ were hold by two other men—James Philip and John Nicolson,' Witness was not always present when firing was donq, but he was present on March 11, when five holes, Ibft deep, and approximately Bft apart, were bored. The ordinary blasting powder was used, and the shots were discharged by means of an electric battery. When a blast yas to be fired warning was given by a call of "Fire!” by either of the men holding service permits or by himself. As a rule about four or five minutes elapsed between the time “Fire 1” was given and the time the battery was discharged, but on this occasion fully seven minutes elapsed. The time given was more than ample. It would take less than a minute for the two deceased and the five men who wore with (hem to reach the jig wheel stand. Before witness left his post, which was on < top of the quarry, he had, according to his practice, satisfied himself that the men from the north and south positions had reached the safety zones. The men who were working on the south section were John Pichett, James Parkhill, William Choyce, John Herd. William M’lntosh, David M'Millan, and William Cox. After he saw the seven men walking out towards the jig wheel witness called out “Fire!” this time as a final warning and walked about 10 yards I jack. Philip then asked him if all wore right, and, the answer being in the affirmative, the wires were connected and the shot was discharged, Philip performing the Operation. Witness returned to his original position after the blast, and saw M'Millan in a sitting position, and. calling to Philip and Nicolson, he hastened down the face. Questioned as to what could have induced him to go down there, M'Millan could only answer, “I’m done.’* Cox and MTntosh were close by. l Witness could offer no reason why the men should have left the jig wheel and gone where they did. The spot on which they were found was one of the most dangerous positions they could have selected when the shots were fired. None ,of the men had complained lhat the vicinity of the jig wheel was not in the safety zone. The men would have been absolutely safe had they remained beside the jig wheel. A doctor was sent for immediately after the accident, and everything possible was done for the sufferers.

To Sergeant Dunlop: He remembered that five charges were touched off three •lays previously, on Saturday, March 8. and one had misfired. Witness examined the faulty charge, and decided to fire it for safety. The outside charges, he said, had exploded, demolishing the banks on either side and leaving the miasfire in the middle, no that when it exploded the debris flow all over the place, as there was less resistance. Some of it fellin the vicinity of the jig. but not over,.it. Witness added that only those who were actually'engaged in firing .the shot were employed in the quarry that day. Mr Irwin:, As a result of that explosion on March 8 there was, I presume, a quantity of stone lying near the jig? Witness: Yes.

Were the men told how it "got there?— Not that I am aware of.

Continuing, witness admitted that there "had * been'-shots'fired directly over the jig, and the vicinity had been ' strewn with stones on these occasions. Ninety feet was the- nearest distance from the jig wheel from which a shot had been fired. Witness was very often present at the?" ' lasting operations, but not always, anu two learnings wore invariably given. There were no instructions as to where the men were to go before a blast, but if they were in a dangerous place they would bo told to leave it. Mr Irwin: If the men considered their position dangerous who was to tell them where to go if they chose to leave it? Witness: No one. It was quite sufficient to see the men into safety. To Mr Payne: They could have chosen another route down the tramway inclipe, and would have been quite safe, but they chose the most dangerous path: Ho still considered the men would have boon absolutely safe behind the jig wheel. He had since the accident fired shots at a closer distance, when men were behind the jig, and they had been in perfect safety^ To the Coroner: It was the duty of the man in charge of the operations to know how many men were working in the quarry and to s cif that each man was safe. Those in charge were not notified when the men reached the .safety zone.

James Philip, quarryman, said that he was engaged m blasting operations at the quarry at 11.30 am. on March 11. MTntosh and John Nicolson were with him at the time. Witness usually fired the blasts himself, and did so on this occasion, exploding five shots. He gave no signal for the men to leave the danger zone, but he heard Nicolson and the witness MTntosh shout “Fire.’’ At the time the warning was given witness was coupling up the batteries. Nicolson called out first, and MTntosh’s warning followed about a minute later. Witness was about 10 yards behind tile face where Nicolson stood, and was engaged in coupling the wires during the time both warnings wore given. Six or seven minutes elapsed from the time the first warning was given until the snots were 1 fired. Witness went down with MTntosh and found Cox, M'Millan, and MTntosh lying near the dump. Witness could give no reason why the throe men should have left their cover and gone where they would have been in such danger, nor had he heard any reason -from the other men whv they' should have done so.

To Air Irwin: It took him six or seven minutes to fix the wires, and a minute after MTntosh came back and gave his final signal the shot was fired. John Nicolson, quarryman, said that he was towards (ho north side of where the blast was fired, and was in view of the men of the north section only. He called “fire” once as a warning, and Robert MTntosh gave a similar warning, and again a third just before the shot was fired. The battery was not connected up by the time the last warning was given. Witness went, down after the shot was fired and saw M'Millan in a sitting posture. The injured men would, in his opinion, have been safe had they remained where they were. To Mr Irwin: Walking, it would have takers the men about a couple of minutes to to from the jig to the place where they were struck.

Witness remembered that a shot was fired on March 8, when debris went as far as, but not beyond or over, the jig. John Pickett, labourer, said that he was one of the party at the South section. There were, he thought, two warnings which came from the top of the face, and after the first witness walked over to the jig, going to the, back of it. It took about a minute to cover the distance, and the whole party went over together, though ho could not so.y that all went beyond the jig. John Herd left the jig, but came hack a little later. Witness did not notice whether M'Millan, Cox, or MTntosh left or not. Ample warning had always been given before shots wore fired.

James Parkhill, a labourer, who was employed in the south section of the gang-, said that he heard two signals arid he and his males immediately took shelter behind the jig. M‘lntosh. noticing the stones lying around, remarked that he did not think their shelter was safe, and, followed by Cox. M'Millan. Herd, and witness, he proceeded north from the jig. Shortly after leaving the shelter witness and Herd changed their minds,' witness going down past the jig to the tramway and Herd stopping at the jig. M‘Millan, Cox and M'lntosh were well ahead, having made up their minds sooner to leave. Ho could not say what made him change Ids mind, “but something just came into his bead and ho went back.” They had always sheltered behind the jig and had considered it safe. Mr Irwin: Why did you consider it wasn’t sale on this day?

Witness: I saw a number of stones lying

between the face and the jig, and felt disposed to follow the rest when the danger was pointed out. William Crockett, another member of the north gang, also gave evidence, and after reading a brief statement from Herd, who was not present, the coroner adjourned the inquest to Dunedin sine 'die. so as to secure the evidence of William MTntosh, who is still in Hospital as the result of his injuries.