THE ASHTON EXPLOSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 143, 16 June 1917, Page 5

THE ASHTON EXPLOSION.

200 KILLED AND INJURED. LONDON', June 13. Fifty workers were killed by an explosion in the munitions factory at Aaliton-under-Lync, near Manchester. A total of ljO persons were injured by the explosion. A considerable proportion of the casualties oeeurred among seliool children returning home. Flying fragments of boilers, bricks, and gasometer frames were responsible for il large proportion of the casualties. Debris wae hurled a mile. One street is described as resembling a shambles. Flames from the munitions works ignited a cotton mill, which was gutted, nnd ignited a corn mill at Dukinfield, which was completely destroyed.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

MANAGER'S SACRIFICE. (Received 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. The cause of the fire at Ashton-under-Lyne is unknown. It is believed to have been due to the fusing of electric wires. Seventy employees were in the premises when the fire occurred. The manager ran through the building to warn employees, ( and was himself killed. Meanwhile firemen endeavoured to extinguish the outbreak, but their efforts were vain. There was a complete stoppage yesterday at the mills within two miles of the explosion owing to damage to machinery. It is expected that Dukinfield will be without gas for the next three months.—(A- and N.Z. Cable.)