Serious Blasting Accident.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9617, 20 April 1900, Page 1

Serious Blasting Accident.

M about 10.30 o'clock yesterday; morning two young men named Robt. Grant and Fred Butler were working in an open cutting at Waikino in connection with the 1 extension of the Waihi Company** water race. They had drilled two holes about 20 inches in depth and charged each with a plug of gelignite, which they decided to fire simultaneously, applying the matches at the same foment. Butlerl states that within five secondsi of the application of the match, Grant's charge exploded, the only suggested explanation of which ia thatiiheiusei waa faulty and 1 spitted rapidly down on, the charge. Grant waa in the act of rising at the time and had his right hand resting against the wall immediately over[the hole,"and the hand received the full force of the charge and waa shattered. Butler,! who: was alongside Grant,- . was; knocked down;, but escaped with! a few! bruises;' On re-

covering from the daze of the shock, they ran in different directions to give the warning, and they were 150 yards away before the second charge exploded. The serious nature of Grant's injury being realised, he was conveyed at once in the Waihi Company's train to Waihi, where Drs;. Forbes and Porter held a consultation and amputated the hand at the wrist. The sufferer was then driven to Paeroai, and, arriving here by the evening train, was taken to the hospital, where DrAubin found that! the surgical operations hada been satisfactorily; carried out.. ";vMere are also ai couple of flesh Tfoj^^a-;: higher up the arm, and it wjllf be a day; or. two before a defmite" pronouncement ©an be made as to whether a further operation will be necessary. The sufferer, who shows great fortitude, was accompanied, by Mr* Dickson (fore-..■ man of the "outside works) ; and twoi mate*, Messrs Butler and Power.