A SHOCKING FATALITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8588, 7 August 1899, Page 2

A SHOCKING FATALITY.

EXPLOSION AT A WELLINGTON FORT.

PREMATURE DISCHARGE OF

GUNCOTTON

THREE MEN KILLED AND ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, to-day (noon). Word has just been received that an explosion occurred at Mahanga, Bay, near one of the harbor forts. Three men are said to be killed, but no particulars are yet available, as the authorities have forbidden any information to be given. • Later. — The news of an explosion at tho defence works is unfortunately too true.

A number "of men were engaged in removing the o!d electric light works, which were to be abandoned, and in the course of the operation had to fire some gun-cotton in a pit.

The gun-cotton exploded prematurely, killing Sergeant Olive, Corporal Black, and Sapper Teague, and injuring Sapper Head. Sapper Head is badly injured, and he is not expected to live.

The men were members of the Torpedo Corps.

Olive was a young man, and leaves a wife and no children.

Black was an elderly man, and leaves a wife and three children.

Teague was a young man with a wife and one child.

Head was a young single man. The bodies are being brought to town. Head was brought to town in the launch Helen Ballance. Though' apparently dead when picked up he is not «o bad as at first thought. The bodies remain ut the fort pending the coroner's decision.

The Commandant intends holdinga brief official enquiry before making the details public.

Teague was for some years stationed at Auckland.

Black has been io the force twenty-two years.

This is the second similar accident, as two men were killed, and three injured at the Shelly Bay torpedo station by a 'guncotton explosion on March 4, 1891.