PREMATURE EXPLOSION

Southland Times, Issue 21717, 1 June 1932, Page 6

PREMATURE EXPLOSION

FARMER BLOWN TO PIECES. FATALITY XT WAIMATUKU. A tragic accident occurred about nine o’clock yesterday morning at Waimatuku when a farmer named John Rance, aged 44, a married man, was blown to pieces while bursting timber with gelignite. Apparently the charge exploded prematurely while Rance was close to it. One of the arms of the deceased was picked up some 125 yards from where the explosion occurred. Although Rance’s two sons, aged 17 and 15 respectively, were working with their father at the scene, neither was present at the actual time of the explosion. They were all engaged in carting wood for the threshing mills in the district and the elder boy had taken a load home. Shortly after his departure, Rance told the younger boy to feed some lambs half a mile away, and it was while the son was carrying out this that he heard the explosion, which, being expected, caused no surprise. On returning, however, the lad was horror-stricken to find that his father had been the victim of a shocking accident. The boy immediately ran home and informed Mrs Rance who communicated with Constable Fraser, of Riverton. The deceased, a very progressive farmer, was held in the highest esteem in the district for he was regarded by all with whom he came in contact as a man of fine character. An inquest will be held at Waimatuku on Friday afternoon.