QUARRY EXPLOSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18756, 12 July 1935, Page 3

QUARRY EXPLOSION

BRITAIN’S RECORD BLAST 750,000 TONS DISLODGED GLASGOW, June 1. Two -men sitting iby the roadside at Bonawe, Argyllshire, pressed a lever at (J o’clock to-night and fired the biggest mine ever exploded in a British quarry, and possibly any quarrv in the world. Twenty tons of explosive were used and 750,000 tons of granite were brought down. All the day quarrymen have been closing with granite and cement the tunnel which had been bored under Ben. Duirinish. From the mouth of the shaft a- long hue of cable was run down to the road and round a shoulder of the hill, and there connected with the firing apparatus. Most of the 700 people of Bonawe and crowds of spectators from farther afield gathered on an island opposite the quarries in Loch Etivc. Others watched from 'boats. In the .little town pictures had been taken down from walls, crockery removed from shelves, mirrors laid on floors, and everything breakable had been removed to a place of safety. Houses near the quarry were evacuated. Then a steam whistle blew for a quarter*of an hour as a final warning, while two aeroplanes circled overhead. At- 0 o’clock a white flag was waved as a signal to the firing point, and at once there was,a low rumble from the 500-foot-high quarry face. As at in; creased intensity the ground shook slightly, the waters of the loch rippled, then the whole e 1 iIT fell outwards, and a moment later the whole scene was shrouded in huge clouds of dust find fumes. When the air cleared it was seen that the .18 months of preparation for t-hfe huge blast had, in a few seconds, been crowned with complete success.

Major Strut hers, who was in charge of the operations, said that the explosiion and provided materials which would keep the quarry busy for at least five vears.