ALARM AT SHOW

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 32, 1 November 1930, Page 13

ALARM AT SHOW

Accidental Explosion TWO MEN INJURED Photographer’s Mishap In a deafening explosion, accompanied by a blinding flash of light, which shook the Winter Show building hist evening, a photographer and his assistant suffered extensive burns to their faces and iiands. They are Leslie Wallace, photographer, of 9 Knegg Street, and Ronald Prescott, his assistant, living at Seatoun Heights.

Mr. Wallace and his assistant, at about twenty minutes to ten, were preparing to take a flashlight photograph of the late Major Segrave’s racing car, the “Golden Arrow,” which is the chief exhibit of the motor show there, when, without warning, the magnesium powder in teh holder exploded with a tremendous report. The accident caused alarm in the building, in which it was estimated that there were quite 1000 persons. There was a great sheet of flame and a report which was described by one who had been present as “the biggest noise he had ever heard in his life.” Several people were temporarily deafened and women fainted. Many thought that a petrol tank had exploded. From the beginning it was seen that the men were injured. They were hurried into a nearby stall and placed on settees where methods of resuscitation were tried. One came round quickly, but the other, who seemed more seriously hurt, did not respond so soon to the treatment. Both were blackened in the face, and were cut by fragments of glass 'from a bottle which is presumed to have exploded. The Free Ambulance was summoned, but before it arrived the men were taken to the hospital by private car. Their condition early this morning was reported to be satisfactory. _ Neither is considered to be seriously injured.