On 28 April, 1914, the District Coroner, W G Riddell, S.M, rendered his verdict just three days after conclusion of proceedings.
He found, balancing the evidence, that the cause of the explosion was due to gelignite and that this explosion caused the death of the eight men in and around the store that night.
The evidence proffered at the inquest could only account for some 16 lbs of gelignite being sold from the 50 lb case of the explosive received at the store on the previous 6th of February, leaving some 34 lbs unaccounted for.
Other witnesses had failed to come forward to attest to purchases from the store between the 6th of February and the day of the explosion.
This might be accounted for in part because to come forward was to likely result in self-incrimination in illegal use of the gelignite. There was evidence suggesting some of this over the counter trade in gelignite was being used to blow up trout in the Akatarawa and other streams in the Upper Hutt area along with the fact that Benge & Pratt's sales of gelignite were illegal since they had no license or permit to do so.
Both partners, Benge and Pratt, each testified they were not involved directly in the sales of the explosive. The Coroner found that "this might easily have happened". [This surely does not absolve them of responsibility for or knowledge of the sales, thought this was not a criminal proceeding].
The Coroner had heard expert testimony that as little as 10 lbs of gelignite would be sufficient to cause the type and size of explosion that destroyed the Benge & Pratt store and caused the deaths of eight men. He concluded that "one is forced to {the] conclusion that it [the explosion] was due to gelignite in the room above the grocery department".
As to the cause of the fire preceding the explosion, the Coroner could reach no definite conclusion.
"Due to Gelignite", Evening Post, 28 April 1914, p. 7.
Showing posts with label Coroner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coroner. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Benge & Pratt Store Fire and Explosion, Upper Hutt, What Caused The Fire, April 1914?
Before determining the cause of the explosion, the Coroner's Inquest had to first try to establish the cause of the fire.
Evidence was given that the business' partners, Messrs Benge and Pratt had left the premises at 9:30 pm on Saturday evening after they shut off the gas and locked up the premises. At around 10 pm., Mr. Benge thought he saw a light in the upstairs storey of the building above the grocery. He returned to the building and inspected the upstairs floor but found no sign of anything out of the ordinary. Benge testified that he had used one or two matches when upstairs but the Coroner concluded that the lapse of an hour and a half or more until the first signs of the fire were discovered discounted these matches as being the cause of the fire.
In his verdict, the Coroner, Mr W G Riddell, S.M., noted that matches were stored in the upper room or south front upper room as it was identified in evidence where the fire was likely to have started. He observed that it was "not an uncommon thing for rats to cause a fire by getting at the matches". Given the uncertainty of the facts, he concluded that it was impossible to say from the evidence what the real cause of the fire was.
Nevertheless, Mr Riddell, concluded the building was old - one of the oldest in Upper Hutt at the time - it was wooden and of two storeys, yet there was no fire hose, extinguishers, or other fire fighting equipment on the premises. Furthermore, the Coroner observed that no efforts were taken to put the fire out. News reports of the time show that Upper Hutt did not have a fire brigade then and had only recently installed a high pressure water system. The one fire hose owned by the town had been locked up and only belatedly was taken to the scene of the fire.
Had effective fire fighting capabilities existed and been put to use, the Coroner concluded, the ensuing explosion might have been prevented.
Evidence was given that the business' partners, Messrs Benge and Pratt had left the premises at 9:30 pm on Saturday evening after they shut off the gas and locked up the premises. At around 10 pm., Mr. Benge thought he saw a light in the upstairs storey of the building above the grocery. He returned to the building and inspected the upstairs floor but found no sign of anything out of the ordinary. Benge testified that he had used one or two matches when upstairs but the Coroner concluded that the lapse of an hour and a half or more until the first signs of the fire were discovered discounted these matches as being the cause of the fire.
In his verdict, the Coroner, Mr W G Riddell, S.M., noted that matches were stored in the upper room or south front upper room as it was identified in evidence where the fire was likely to have started. He observed that it was "not an uncommon thing for rats to cause a fire by getting at the matches". Given the uncertainty of the facts, he concluded that it was impossible to say from the evidence what the real cause of the fire was.
Nevertheless, Mr Riddell, concluded the building was old - one of the oldest in Upper Hutt at the time - it was wooden and of two storeys, yet there was no fire hose, extinguishers, or other fire fighting equipment on the premises. Furthermore, the Coroner observed that no efforts were taken to put the fire out. News reports of the time show that Upper Hutt did not have a fire brigade then and had only recently installed a high pressure water system. The one fire hose owned by the town had been locked up and only belatedly was taken to the scene of the fire.
Had effective fire fighting capabilities existed and been put to use, the Coroner concluded, the ensuing explosion might have been prevented.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Benge & Pratt Store Fire and Explosion, Upper Hutt, The Coroner's Inquiry, April 1914
Within the days of the Benge & Pratt store fire and explosion, the District Coroner convened an inquiry into the causes of the disaster that led to the death of eight men. The Coroner sat for seven days between 3 April and 25th of April 1914 at the Upper Hutt Town Hall hearing evidence both from eye witnesses at the scene and expert witnesses.
The acetylene gas system used to fuel the lighting system in the store was first to come under suspicion as the cause of the explosion. Water dripping onto calcium carbide chips results in a chemical reaction that produces acetylene gas that when ignited lights up gas lamps in a home or store like Benge & Pratt's (see diagram below).
Expert evidence was given that some 20 cubic feet of acetylene would be needed to produce an explosion in the building. Since the gas was turned off at around 10 pm (originally it had been suggested it was turned offf at 9:30 pm), it was estimated by experts that only 7 to 8 cubic feet could have leaked between that time and that of the explosion. Moreover, it would have required a leak or rupture of the gas piping for gas to have spread throughout the building. No one gave evidence of smelling gas at the time the store closed, at the time of the first alarm, or immediately prior to the explosion some thirty minutes later.
An examination of the generator after the explosion showed that it remained sealed and showed no signs of being ruptured either by the fire or the explosion.
The acetylene gas system used to fuel the lighting system in the store was first to come under suspicion as the cause of the explosion. Water dripping onto calcium carbide chips results in a chemical reaction that produces acetylene gas that when ignited lights up gas lamps in a home or store like Benge & Pratt's (see diagram below).
Expert evidence was given that some 20 cubic feet of acetylene would be needed to produce an explosion in the building. Since the gas was turned off at around 10 pm (originally it had been suggested it was turned offf at 9:30 pm), it was estimated by experts that only 7 to 8 cubic feet could have leaked between that time and that of the explosion. Moreover, it would have required a leak or rupture of the gas piping for gas to have spread throughout the building. No one gave evidence of smelling gas at the time the store closed, at the time of the first alarm, or immediately prior to the explosion some thirty minutes later.
An examination of the generator after the explosion showed that it remained sealed and showed no signs of being ruptured either by the fire or the explosion.
A water-to-carbide acetylene gas generator of the type use to provide gas for household and business lighting in the late 1890s to early 1900s. Water was slowly released onto carbide chips in the generator (A) and the acetylene gas produced was stored in the gas tank (B) until the gas lighting was run.
Source: Evening Post, Report of Coroner's Inquest, 28 April 1914, p. 7.
Friday, September 26, 2008
New Zealand - US Antarctic Death Investigation
A New Zealand coroner in Christchurch holding a hearing into the death of Australian scientist Dr Rodney David Marks at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on May 12, 2000 has found that the scientist died as a result of acute methanol poisoning.
The coroner concluded that Dr Marks may have mistaken the methanol for ethanol obtained from lab sources. Moonshine is suspected of being produced at the South Pole station and this too could have been contaminated with methanol.
The coroner highlighted the frustrations of New Zealand police in investigating the death without proper cooperation from US authorities who share in the operation of the South Pole base. He faulted the base's doctor for failing to diagnose the methanol poisoning, for failing to investigate needle tracks on the deceased's arm and not conducting "certain diagnostic tests".
Further hampering the NZ police investigation was the difficulty of obtaining evidence from US authorities, their failure to preserve or photograph the scene of death and to take statements from staff.
The coroner recommended the New Zealand government explore ways to improve cooperation with the US in conducting death investigations in the Antarctic.
The coroner concluded that Dr Marks may have mistaken the methanol for ethanol obtained from lab sources. Moonshine is suspected of being produced at the South Pole station and this too could have been contaminated with methanol.
The coroner highlighted the frustrations of New Zealand police in investigating the death without proper cooperation from US authorities who share in the operation of the South Pole base. He faulted the base's doctor for failing to diagnose the methanol poisoning, for failing to investigate needle tracks on the deceased's arm and not conducting "certain diagnostic tests".
Further hampering the NZ police investigation was the difficulty of obtaining evidence from US authorities, their failure to preserve or photograph the scene of death and to take statements from staff.
The coroner recommended the New Zealand government explore ways to improve cooperation with the US in conducting death investigations in the Antarctic.
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