An explosion occurred at the Tce House on Saturday night at n quarter past ten o'clock resulting in the death of tie Chinese second engineer, It appears that an escape of ether had been noticed, and Achee, the lessee, the second engineer, and a coolie mounted the platform round the freezing tank to ascertain where the leak was, Th engineer stood between the other two me! holding " naked light over the cylinder ey taining the ether, when a violent explosion occurred, The freezing tank was instantly in w blaze, all the windows were smashed, one man was knocked off the platform and another was blown through a window, while the engineer disappeared, and it was thought in the confusion that he had got frightened and had gone home. The sound of the explosion awakened the foreigners living in the neighbourhood and they rashed out, of their houses to see what was the matter, and found a bright light proceeding from the Tce House, sv une of them rau to the Louza Station to report a fire. Inspector Howard hastened to the scene, but found the place in darkness, the ignited ether having been all consumed. The Chinese on the premises then went to take the ice-holders out of the freezing tank as they had all been upset and, while a0 engaged, they came across the dead body of the engineer which was found at the gomer farthest from that at which he had been standing at the time of the explosion. There were scarcely any marks on the body so that it is probable the man was stunned and was drowned while in that condition, The Ice Works are closed for five days in consequence of the accident
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.