MILLS , BOMB IN COAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20828, 21 September 1929, Page 14

MILLS , BOMB IN COAL.

SOUVENIR OF THE WAR. MINE WORKERS EXONERATED. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 20. Though explosives or detonators in coal were blamed at the time for an explosion in a house at 63 Gloucester street, in which Mr J. W. Gallagher and his wife were injured,.it is now revealed that the explosion was actually caused by a Mills bomb which fell into the coal and exploded when put on the fire. Mr Gallagher had a Mills bomb which he had brought hack from the war as a souvenir, and which he had been told was quite safe because the charge had been taken from it. The bomb was in a tin in the shed where. the coal was kept, and apparently it foil into the coal box nndswas taken in and put on the fire with coal.

The explosion was particularly violent, burying pieces of. metal in the wall; and though at first it was thought that sqme explosive left in the coal at the mine was responsible for the explosion, some 6f the pieces of -metal in . the wall were found to be parts of a bomb. Mr and Mrs Gallagher were both taken to the hospital, and though Mr Gallagher was soon discharged, his wife, in one of whose feet a piece of the bomb was found, was discharged only a week

Instances have been reported recently in Christchurch, of the findiug of plucs of samsonite in household coal, but It is authoritatively stated that there is no danger to householders from this form of explosive, as it will quietly burn away.