AUSTRALIAN.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 591, 7 April 1891, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

THE TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN SYDNEY. A frightful disaster occurred at Sydney on Friday night. A detachment from the Torpedo corps and Sappers were in a cqtter laying two mines, within sight of a large number of spectators, including the Governor and party. The first mine was successfully laid, but it twice refused to fire, and on the third attempt a new cable was attached, which must have been connected in some way with the mine on board, for a terrible explosion occurred. It blew the stern part of the cutter into atoms, and four of the men, including Lieutenant Hammond (whose wife was a spectator of the awful scene) were blown to shreds, The other men were badly injured, and were rescued from their shocking plight as soon as possible. The spectacle presented was a most sickening one, some of the shreds of the bodies floating about in a most ghastly way, and some of the survivors while they were wating for Assistance picked up remnants of the bodies of their comrades. One of the Governor’s party, Colonel de Wolski, says that men should not be allowed to run the risk of firing these hasty charges to give an afternoon's pleasure to ladies, and that while this Sort of thing is allowed there is always the possibility of an explosion. The men who were only injured are likely to recover. The remains that were recovered of the other men were placed In one coffin and buried.

The Argentine Government replietT to the Queensland shearers, offering the men land, implements, rations, and transport (i) the Rdpubiidi'