THE BEAUMONT EXPLOSION

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 66

THE BEAUMONT EXPLOSION

Frank Freeman, aged 44, a married man whose wife and funtdy reside at 322 King Edward street. South Dunedin, was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital late on the 22nd suffering from injuries to his face and one hand, received through a premature explosion of gelignite which took place on the -Miller's Flat extension of the railway line at Beaumont, where Freeman had been employed for about two weeks. It is understood that two or three other men were also injured and were taken to the Lawrence Hospital. No particulars, however, were available last night. The Public Works Department, on the 23rd received additional particulars of the accident on the Beaumont railway works, as a result of which four men were severely injured. The accident was the result of a premature explosion of gelignite, the cause of which the engineer in charge of the works has not as yet hod time to investigate. A hole had been drilled, and it was when the c-harge was being inserted that the accident occurred. The names of the injured men are:— J. Freeman, married, badly burned about the face and eyes, superficial abrasions on the hands. W. Dickson, married, badly dislocated left hip, dislocated and broken right ankle. F. Scoles, married, broken right leg. \V. Waide, married, superficial cubs on head. The injured men were removed to Beaumont, where they were met and attended to by Dr Sutherland, of Lawrence. Thpy were subsequently removed to Lawrence Hospital, Freeman, who was more seriously injured than the others, being brought on to Dunedin.