CAUSED BY GELIGNITE
EXPLOSION AT RICHMOND^
ATTRIBUTED TO FEUD.
(CXITED PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPIRIQHT.)
MELBOURNE, 20th April. .Details of the explosion at Richmond, m which thirty shops were wrecked', show that a fire was observed in a two-story brick building in Bridge road occupied by J. Duncan as a motor and electrical accessories shop, shortly after nudnight Duncan's young wif 0 and two children also lived there. Flames were noticed issuing from the roof by a man living opposite. He had hardfv noticed the outbreak when a terrific explosion lifted the building from its foundations and crumbled it into a heap of ruins. Coincident with the explosion a great sheet of flame shot into the air and debris of all descriptions was scattered round. The windows in many shops were shattered, fittings dislodged, and stocks exposed and scattered in all directions. The exposed stocks proved too great a temptation to the crowds who quickly gathered, and looting became rife: The concussion of the explosion threw neighbours out of bed, while others were covered with showers of falling Plaster. The flames were qnickly controlled, but the firemen worked frantically all night in an endeavour to extricate the people supposed to be buried in the ruins. Early in the morning word was received that Duncan and Ids family were away for the week-end^ Police investigations showed that the explosion was' not' due to petrol, as at first supposed, but was deliberately caused by gelignite, several plugs of which were found in the vicinity. It is suggested that the explosion is the result o£ a feud, • with. Duncan as the innocent, victim. The police are looking for a man discharged from gaol a short time ago. Altogether the frontages of thirtythree shops were destroyed, and the damage is estimated at £30,000. Although there were many narrow escapes, no one was injured. The force of the explosion was felt at Hawthorn, 2J- miles away, where it was thought to be an earth tremor.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250421.2.52
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 92, 21 April 1925, Page 7
Word Count
328CAUSED BY GELIGNITE Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 92, 21 April 1925, Page 7
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