FOUR SHOPS WRECKED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 68, 21 March 1910, Page 5

FOUR SHOPS WRECKED.

FIRE-RAISERS' PLOT FAILS A BIG EXPLOSION (By Cables—Press Association.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, March 20. Four shops in Brunswick-street, Fitzroy, were destroyed by an explosion. Eleven persons resided in the wrecked premises, and a grocer named Crabtree was seriously injured by being buried in the debris, and Mrs. Sneddon and her daughter were severely nurx. The explosion was accompanied by a vast sheet of flame, and was at first supposed to have been caused by -an escape of gas, but the police have discovered that it was caused through the misear-' riage of a determined attempt at incendiarism. A man named Shaw has confessed that recently Crabtree and he effected the insurance of the stock, and removed about £400 worth of it. Shavings were then carted in in large quantities, and on Friday night Crabtree and himself saturated these with methylated spirits and benzine. It was arranged that when the place was well alight Shaw should jump from the verandah and give the alarm, but the scheme miscarried. When Crabtree struck a light a violent explosion followed, and Shaw knew no more until he recovered some time after. The explosion damaged 47 other buildings, the majority slightly. On both sides of the street all the windows for a long distance are shattered. CRABTREE'S STORY. ■ A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. (Received 10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. According to the confession of Shaw, who was Crabtree's assistant, preparations for the fire were proceeding for three weeks, goods being removed during the night to another of Crabtree's shops at Brunswick. Crabtree, when confronted with Shaw's confession, while modifying his own previous statement, denied Shaw's story. He stated that lie found taps on the gas stove turned on, and when he lit a matcii the explosion followed. The detectives state that they have evidence supporting Shaw's story. Crabtree's leg was broken and he was badly burned. Crabtree and Shaw remain in the hospital. The Sneddon family had a mrraculous escape. One little girl, lying in bed, was buried in the debris, and was only saved from being crushed to death by the door jambing. A girl named Lewis fell in bed from the top room to the next floor. She was not injured, ;