A BOILER EXPLOSION.
G WILSON'S KUMARA MLL BLOWN UP.
One man Killed Instantly.
Another Fatally injured.
Two Others Receive Serious Injuries.
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] KUMARA, This Day.
A bad accident happened at Kumara Junction at 10 o'clock this morning, when the boiler at Wilson and Coy.'s mill is said to have been blown to pieces, wrecking the mill. A sawyer named Bull, who lately worked at Hokitika, and is a married man with a wife and six children, was killed on the spot. Le Compte, another employee, was very seriously injured and is not expected to live. A younger brother of Wilson, proprietor of the mill, had his leg broken in two places and is internally injured. Batty, the engine driver, is also seriously injured. Doctors McKay and Mandl are on the spot attending to the men, who are being removed to the Kumara hospital.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE ACCIDENT.
ANOTHER MAN SINCE DEAD.
(Our Own Reporter). KUMARA, This Day. A frightful accident occurred at the Kumara Junction this morning at ten minutes to 10.
The boiler at Wilson and Gillies' sawmill blew up, injuring four men, three of them seriously and one slightly.
One of them, James Bull (the sawyer) died about half an hour afterwards. He is a married man, with six children, ranging in age from 2 to 12 years. He hails from Southland.
The second man is well known in Kumara, John Le Compte by name, a tailer-out. He is married, but has no family. He is seriously injured, and it is not thought advisable to shift him, as the doctor does not think he will live to reach Kumara hospital. He has one arm broken, and has a terrible gash extending from over the right eye for about eight inches around the right side of the head. Evidently the skull is badly fractured. He has other injuries, but those cannot be guaged until after examination. He is between 25 and 30 years of age, and a native of Akaroa, Canterbury.
Joseph Batty, the third man, was engine driver. He is badly scalded and is otherwise injured. He is a single man and comes from Coal Creek.
George Wilson, from Camerons, a brother of the proprietor of the mill, is about 25 years of age. He was breaking down at the big saw. He has his leg broken in two places and is badly cut about the groin. The full extent of his injuries are nut known.
Ziegler escaped with a few slight scratches.
All the other men about the mill escaped injury, some of them seemingly by a miracle.
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The cause of the accident cannot be ascertained at present, as the awful suddenness of the disaster seemed to stupify even those who witnessed it.
THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
A visit to the scene showed that the boiler had burst in two, blowing the fire box about two chains away out under the shed and across the tramway, striking a hut on its way, and leaving nothing but the end of it standing. It was twisted almost out of shape. The other part of the boiler was blown across the saw bench, in front of which Bull was standing, and, close to him, Le Compte. It carried saws, pulleys, bench bolts; and a huge beam, eighteen by eight, smashing it in two, and splintering the ends to match wood, and burying young Wilson underneath, from which he had to be extricated by the aid of two iron jacks. In its course it evidently struck Bull and Le Compte, inflicting fatal injuries in both cases.
Word has just arrived that Le Compte died going up in the coach.
In exploding the boiler made a complete wreck of the mill, smashing the beams and scattering the iron off the roof in all directions, blowing pieces of timber and iron in all directions. In a word, the place is one tangled mass of broken woodwork, twisted and broken iron, with belts, pulleys, and saws and all manner of thing's scattered in inextricable confusion.
The disaster has cast a gloom over the whole district, as all the men were well known and very highly respected.
MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.
Drs Morkano and Mandl were very quickly on the scene and did all that could be done. Wilson has been removed to the Kumara hospital.
LE COMPTE ALSO DEAD.
Le Compte died on the way up.
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE OTHERS.
The accident, happened while the men were oiling up and sharpening the saws. Had it occurred three minutes earlier probably three more men would have been involved, as they were working in the mill and had been ordered elsewhere just before the accident.
Among the marvellous escapes was that of a young man named Grey, who had only just left the hut and was only a few yards away when the fire box crashed into it, and made matchwood of it. Another was only a few yards from the course of the fire box unloading a trolley. Neither Bull nor Le Compte ever regained consciousness after the accident.
Batty is not badly injured. The man killed outright, named Bull, was well known in Greymouth, and was a member of the Star of the West Lodge of Druids. He leaves a young family, we fear none too well provided for.
Batty, who attended to the engine, and who is injured but not seriously, is the eldest son of Mr Batty, farmer, of Coal Creek.
The mill that has been destroyed was close to the Kumara railway station, on the western side of the line, and right opposite the main road going to Kumara.
Mr Gillies, who is part owner of the sawmill, left Greymouth immediately the news was received to do all that was possible for the injured
(Received at 4 o'clock.) G. Wilson, who was hurt in the accident to-day, is now in a very critical condition. The inquest will be held to-night at 7 o'clock at Kumara Junction. -Greymouth Evening Star, 5/4/1906.
KUMARA JUNCTION FATALITY
MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE
Numerous messages of sympathy have been received in connection with the recent fatality at the Kumara Junction, including one from the Premier, and one from Mrs Seddon to the Mayor (Mr Murdoch), and are as follows:
“It is with profound regret that I learn of the sad accident through boiler exploding at Kumara Railway Junction. Kindly convey to the bereaved relatives and sufferers my warmest and heartfelt sympathy. — R. J. Seddon.”
“Sorry hear sad accident. Please convey to sufferers and relatives my deepest sympathy. — Jane Seddon.”
The following reply was sent by the Mayor; —
“Your kind messages conveyed by me personally to relatives and sufferers. Please accept their warmest thanks. Am sending you full particulars.”
On enquiry to-day we learn that Joseph Batey is progressing as well as can be expected.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS.
This afternoon the funeral of the late John Le Compte took place at Kumara. The cortege started from the residence of his mother-in-law, Mrs Bell, thence proceeded to Holy Trinity Church, where Rev. Mr Smythe conducted the Anglican service in the presence of a large concourse of mourners. The cortege reformed outside the Church, and wended its way to the Kumara cemetery, where the last sad rites were performed, both by the Rev. Mr Smythe and representatives of the Friendly Societies. From far and near mourners came in very large numbers to attend the funeral of one so well known, so esteemed and respected The members of the Kumara Masonic Lodge, the Foresters and the Oddfellows and visiting brethren were present in large numbers.
To-morrow the funerals of two of those who were killed — Messrs George Wilson and James Bull —will take place at the Greymouth cemetery. Arrangements have been made for a special train from Kumara. It will leave Greymouth for Kumara at 1 p.m., and Kumara for Grey at 2.15 p.m., returning to Kumara at 6 p.m., and leaving there for Greymouth at 7 p.m. Ven. Archdeacon York will conduct the funeral service over the remains of Bull, and the Rev. R. Stewart over those of Wilson.
The members of the Druids’ Lodge are requested to assemble at the lodge room Hospital street, at 12.30 to-morrow, and proceed to Kumara by the special train to attend the funeral of their late brother, James Bull. -Gerymouth Evening Star, 7/4/1906.
The inquest on the deaths produced the verdict: "That James Bull, John Le Compte and George Wilson met their deaths through the accidental explosion of the boiler at Wilson and Company's mill at Kumara Junction on April 5th 1906, and that no blame is attachable to anyone as every reasonable precaution had been taken to avoid accident. The jury recommend that an inspector of machinery be stationed at Hokitika or Greymouth, whose duty it shall be to make more frequent examinations of boilers and machinery than is possible under the present system."
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