FATAL EXPLOSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17779, 30 January 1920, Page 5

FATAL EXPLOSION

CORONER’S FINDING. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Jan. 29. The adjourned inquest concerning the explosion which took place in the Clutha River Board’s steamer Clutha on November 11th last, when 2 3 of the crew were badly scalded, David Reddie (fireman) being fatally injured, was resumed to-day befor Mr J. R. Bartholomew. S.M. The Coroner said Ihe proximate cause of the fatality was the bursting of the boiler through the failure of the supply of waler. The fireman in charge was an experienced fireman, with lengthy service on the river boat. When it came to an explanation of how the water in the boiler failed and was reduced so low, they were met with extraordinary conflict between the evidence of the deck hands and expert opinion as to what was possible; in fact these were not matters on which it was encumbent for him to express an opinion, and really it was not yet proper for him to give a definite finding on those issues. They were matters which, if anything, chi) liability would attack, and they were not distinctly pertinent to the Coroner’s inquiries. The formal verdict was that the deceased. David Reddie. died from injuries received through the bursting of a boiler.