Report from the West Briton dated 15 January 1847

Explosion of Powder Mills and loss of life

On Wednesday morning last, about nine o'clock a tremendous explosion occurred at the Kennal powder mills situated in Kennal vale, in the parish of Stithians and in the occupation of Messrs Sampson and Lanyon. The explosion took place in the stamping mill, which is almost a new building, and it blew the place to atoms, with the exception of a portion of the wall, a few feet high which is still left standing. Two men were working in the mill, named Martin and Dunstan and these unfortunate individuals were almost blown in pieces by the violence of the explosion. A number of persons on hearing the report, congragated around the spot from the neighbouring village of Ponasnooth and great was the lamentation among them.

The bodied of the two workmen were soon found in a dreadfully mangled condition. Both the men were married but have no children. We have not heard anything that may account for the accident, every precaution being taken in the mills to prevent such an occurrence and only two men, it is said were allowed to work in each mill at one time. We understand that there was a large quantity of powder in the stamping mill at the time of the accident. An inquest was held on the bodies on Thursday.

An account of the inquest was reported in the West Briton on 22 January 1847

The following inquest has been held by J. Carlyon Esq. coroner. On Thursday the 14th inst, on the body of Abraham Dunstan aged 44 and of Thomas Martin, aged 28, who were both killed through the explosion which occurred at Kennal Vale powder mills in the parish of Stithians. Abraham Dunstan had been employed at the works twenty years. Richard Martin, foreman of the mills and other witnesses gave evidence on the inquest but nothing was elicited from them that could in any way account for the explosion. The two men, Dunstan and Martin, were the only persons in the breaking house and were seen by one of the witnesses, named Grose, about two minutes before the explosion, breaking powder in the usual manner with wooden mallets on a marble bed. About six cwt of powder was in the breaking house at the time and it was at its full strength in the form of cakes, although afterwards having to undergo other processes. Verdict, accidental death.