Shocking Blasting Accident

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1047, 22 July 1904, Page 3

Shock ing Blast ing Accident

A Gu,,,;!i(o Explaski Terrible Injuries lo a Han's Face This morning a allocking blasting accident occuci'oil nt tho Qovernino.it quarry, near MacKuy Town, wlioro several nion uro ongnged in breaking out, nicti! It appears thai one of tho party, Edward Shaw, wns standing in tho vicinity ol a binvl which contained, wo understand, tho day's supply of oxplosives, and was waiting for some I charges of gePgnite. The fuses attached in tho charges wcro still burning when suddenly the oonlents of tko barrel exploded, Shaw received a part of the forco of the explosion full in tl'o (.'host and face, inflicting terrible injuries, his fnco being badly en and burned, The whole front of his fmiinol down to his waist was burnt off. Ho was rendered totniiy blind, in which terrible condition lie iiiained up lo the time he was put on a railway carriage for Paeroa, from where he was taken on in tho train to the Thames Hospital, It is surmised that the ignition of tho goligmto in tho barrol was duo to a live spark, which had detached i'.self from one or cither of the fiißos connecting the charges in the quarry.

Mr Sim:? is a prominent and popular member of tho Ohinemuri No, 1 Billo Volunteers, and is tho best shot in tho district, having distinguished himself on more than one occasion in shooting matches both in and outside this district, This year he won tho Government gold and silver medal for tho second best, shot in tho .North Island. He is well known in the Ohinemuri goldfiold, and the news of his sad aceidont will be received in Waihi with the deepest regret.