An Explosive Situation

The Kanowna Explosion

MATCH DROPPED INTO CASK OF RUM.
DEATH OF ONE OF THE INJURED MEN

White Feather Hotel, Kanowna

An accident resulting in serious injury to several persons occurred at the White Feather Hotel today, when a match dropped in a cask of spirit caused  a terrific explosion. Mr Cole, proprietor of the hotel, in company with Mick Brazil of Coolgardie, was examining a cask of 30% over proof rum, assisted by the yardman Thomas Morgan. Cole accidentally dropped a lighted match into the cask, and an a explosion occurred. Morgan was frightfully burned and was removed to the hospital in a bad state. Cole, was knocked down and also badly bruised and burnt. Mick Brazil luckily escaped with a few burns about the legs and hands, his hair and whiskers were much scorched. The fire was extinguished without much damage being done. Cole admits that he did not know that the liquor would explode.

Later information states that Messrs Akhurst and Chappel were engaged in valuing the White Feather Hotel on behalf of Mr Cole while Mick Brazil, on behalf of Denny and McManus, was testing the spirits when Cole applied a match to the rum. A portion of the cask was blown through the iron roof while all were knocked down, the burning spirit falling over Morgan and burning the clothes and flesh from his body.

Three kerosene tins and two other casks also exploded loudly, setting the place on fire. Brazil, Chappel, Cole and Morgan were lucky in escaping further injury. Willing hands soon extinguished the flames. Chappel was badly burnt about the hands, whilst the hair was burnt completely off his face. The damage is estimated at considerably over £100.
Thomas Morgan, the yardman at the White Feather Hotel, his condition was considered serious when admitted to hospital. Though every attention was bestowed upon him, he never regained consciousness he gradually succumbed to his injuries during the night, suffering all the time in intense pain. The other victims of the accident, Messrs Cole and Chappel are making satisfactory progress. Thomas Morgan was a young man and he is buried in the Old Kanowna Cemetery.