FATAL EXPLOSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 10

FATAL EXPLOSION

RAILWAY EMPLOYEE KILLED SHED BLOWN TO PIECES A railway employee named Alexander Penman was killed almost instantly and a corrugated iron shed was blown to pieces as the result of an explosion at Clarendon yesterday afternoon. Andrew Watt, who was also in the shed at the time of the explosion, had a miraculous escape, receiving only minor bruises. He is. however, suffering from shock, so that full particulars of the tragedy are not available. The deceased, who was a single man, aged about 40 years, was employed, with Watt, on the railway deviation at Clarendon, both being casual workers. At about 1.45 they were in the shed fitting fuses to detonators. Penman, who resided at Milton, was walking to the door when he tripped and fell, and, apparently, a drill, which was on a shelf, fell on to the detonator cap and exploded it. Watt saved his life by throwing himself flat on the floor, but Penman was killed almost instantly. The explosive was either gelignite or eruptite, but the exact amount which was in the shed is not known. Watt holds a certificate for firing explosives, and the deceased usually worked with him. An inquest will be opened at 4 o’clock this afternoon before Mr A. E. Russelll.