A TORRENT OF WHISKY.

Evening Star, Issue 13014, 8 January 1907, Page 8

A TORRENT OF WHISKY.

Whisky is notoriously a dangerous liquid •when it pets loose, but Glasgow, for all its experience, has rarely witnessed a scene to equal that caused by the collapse of a distillery vat a few weeks ago. A pipe burst during the breakfast hour in the top storey of the Scottish Distilleries Company’s building in Muirhea/i street, and the hot contents of a 40,000 gal vessel poured on to the floor. Tho flood caused tho collapse of other vats, and in a few minuces over 100,000 gal of liquid wore falling from floor to floor and into lha basement, where the draff, or malt refuse, wsxs stored. The flood burst its way into the narrow streets, where a number of farm hands had gathered with drays, waiting for loads of draff. So great was the force of the torrent that men and horses were thrown across the thoroughfare, and the flood swept dowi the road waist-deep. Two men who wen in tho draflhouse were overtaken, and were carried, half-drowned, through the dporvvay. The draff, of course, was swept out, so that the hot flood was thick and sticky, and rescues were effected with groat difficulty. On© man, a farm hand, was flung with great- violence against/ a stone wall, and died from his injuries. There were many exciting escapes. The liquid mass struck a bakehouse situated at the back of the draffhouse, and caused a panic among the workmen. Ono man was flung against the wall and stunned. The other men had great difficulty in getting out. Souk; of the machinery was swept along the floor of the bakehouse. In th? upper storey of the same building four men were compelled to jump out of tho windows to rcacb a place of safety, the staircase having been carried away. Outride the flood wrecked a little cottage occupied by an old lady, who escaped with difficulty. ‘Tho distillery itself was swept almost bare on all floors, and of four huge tanks for the storage of the infusion of malt only onoremained in position.