NARROW ESCAPES AFTER THE EXPLOSION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1914, Page 7

NARROW ESCAPES AFTER THE EXPLOSION

Tlli<: AFFECTED AREA. . At the time of the explosion there wore nt least a score of men engaged in and about the shop in the salvage operations. Piobably actually inside the store there were at least eight men. Under the circumstances, therefore, it is simply marvellous that so many escaped.' This is probably due to the peculiar nature of the explosion, which appears to havu swept the ground o\er ii curtain area at a certain elevation, and left the rest almost unscathed. Those at the north end of the shop, in the drapery department, were nearly all uninjured. The explosion took effect

more in a south-easterly direction from the southern portion of the shop. It is believed that the youth Taylor, who was killed outright, was engaged at the time in saving goods through the broken shop window, and got the explosion full through the confined space. i.>ot far a.\vay was Mr. C. D. Morpeth, who was badly cut about the neck and head. Mr. T. Costello, a railway shunter, who was also close to Taylor, was severely cut about the legs and sides. Everard Peljing, who lies in a critical condition in the Wellington Hospital with a fractured skull, was picked up near the late Mr. Comesky, in the ruins of Edwards's office. Virgil M'Govern was found nearly sixty feet away from the doorway of the building in' which the explosion took place, and probably received his injuries from flying debris at that distance. It is not at present known where Mr. Hagan was found. Among those who had close calls was Mr. R. F. Storey, relieving tablet porter at Upper Hutt, who was in the snop with the late Constable Mahoney, John Vivian, and others. He was' blown through the door into the street, His injuries were confined to Cuts on the neck and burns on the hand. At the time of the explosion he was betiding down over a case, and to this he a.ttributes his life. Also inside the shop was Signalman Walters, who was knocked down by the force of the explosion, and in falling drove Alan Anderson, another signalman, right through the door. The stationmaster, Mr. Kemp, was quite close to the unfortunate Vivian at the time of the explosion, but got off without a scratch. T. Croft and Norman Williams were blown right out of the shop, but without serious injury. Messrs. Thomas, Wilkinson, and others, standing close in front of the building, were lifted nearly across the street with the fores of the explosion. The landlord Of the hotel, Mr. E. Crabtree, had a marvellous experience. He was mounting a, ladder to the balcony when the explosion came which killed Toohey. Mr. Crabtree was blown to the ground and stunned, but escaped further injury. The ladder was smashed to fragments. Messrs Collett and Weaver, both prominent railway men, were injured about the legs, and will be unable to get about for some time. Mr. J. Toohill. engincdriver, was another of those lucky enough to escape from the worst. He was detained by his wife at the moment of the explosion from going again into the shop. PUTTING OUT THE FIRE It was not till after the explosion took place 'that the hese was coupled up to the main and water played with any force oh the flames. As explained, the firo inspector (Mr. Gosse) had been unable to gain access to the Town Board building where the fire appliances were kept, so he sent his eon to obtain tho key to the back entrance from Roadman Greenwood. He was, however, according to report, unable to open the door as a duplicate key had bean left in the entrance, The door avob therefore forced and appliances obtained. The water was turned on the hotel, which was saved. Then Hazelwood's building, -which lp of brick, ignited by falling debris, Teceived the attention of the fire-fighters. The operations were under the direction of George Mansell, a former employee of Jenkins and Mack, who held the nozzle. Among the helpers with the hose were Messrs. Smith, Hooper, Phillips, and others. Though Hazelwood'e shop was gutted, the fir& was checked from further progress