Rotuma Bomb Tragedy
p. 81 · Read in the full issue
IT has been established, in Fiji, that the bomb which exploded in Rotuma on May 6, and killed seven, was a “practice” type bomb, American in origin.
These bombs weigh approximately 100 pounds and contain several, pounds of black powder which, on explosion, causes a dense smoke for spotting purposes. The balance of the weight is made ud with sand filling.
As the powder is sealed in a canister, its explosive propertieis would be un harmed by long immersion in water.
Moreover a spkrk or friction caused by cutting into the canister with a knife would be sufficient to cause an explosion, even if the fuse were inactive.
It will be remembered that the bomb, which had been found on the reef by Rotumans, had; had a long life before a schoolboy, who scraped the nose of it with his knife, caused it to explode, with such disastrous results. u