1914 Benge & Pratt Explosion

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: new_zealand

At midnight on 29 March 1914, an explosion occurred at the Benge & Pratt general store in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. The following men were killed instantly or shortly after:

• James Comeskey, postmaster

• William Daniel Flynn, railway guard

• Denis Mahoney, the city's police constable

• George William Taylor, railway porter

• John Wesley Vivian, assistant storeman

The following three men were not killed instantly but later died from injuries:

• Virgil Francis McGovern, dentist

• Evard Edward Henry Pelling, blacksmith

• Michael John Toohey, bridge contractor

Sources

• "TRAGIC OCCURRENCE," Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 30 March 1914, Page 5.

• "THE EIGHTH VICTIM," New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8717, 27 April 1914, Page 6.

• "GELIGNITE EXPLOSION," New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8719, 29 April 1914, Page 9.

More information about the victims is available on their respective profiles.