GALLANT WORKMEN

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1938, Page 11

GALLANT WORKMEN

HEROIC ACT SAVES TOWN. GAS EXPLOSION AVERTED. By their heroism in climbing to the top of a 75ft saircase through dense clouds of escaping gas, which every second threatened to explode, two men saved the Scottish fishing port and holiday resort of Campbeltown from what at otie time threatened to become an appalling disaster. Work was in full swing at the Campbeltown Gasworks when it was found that, owing to a water main having become partially choked, the pumps which controlled the flow of gas from the retorts to the gas container had failed af d the gas was collecting in the retorts. It was impossible to stop production, and the gas continued to accumulate in the retorts. The pressure became enormous. With the metal of the retorts almost at red heat, clouds of gas began to escape and to envelop the entire area in choking fumes. Workmen fought frantically to subdue the escapes, fearing that the gas cloud might explode at any moment. There was no time to warn the people of Campbeltown of the impending danger, which was increased when gas from a tank beside the retorts burst into flame with a terrifying roar. Officials were faced with the alternative of trying to confine the escaping gas to the neighbourhood of the works, thereby setting up a heavily gas-laden atmosphere which would. almost certainly lead" to an explosion, bringing death and destruction to the hundreds of homes surrounding the gasworks; or of releasing the gas to float in the sky over the town. In the latter case, while the gas would be less dense and the risk of explosion therefore decreased, the area of havoc in the event of a possible explosion would be increased many (•in-inc nvnr

In conference with Mr A. D. McNair, provost of the town, the gasworks officials determined to release the gas from all the retorts and containers. To achieve this end it was necessary for men to ascend a 75ft high stair in imminent danger of being overcome by' the choking clouds of gas,, and to open the valves which would , release the pressure. , When this was explained to the gas-1 works staff, every member volunteered without hesitation for the job. Two men, Thomas Taylor and Daniel Tene, were chosen. Together they ascended and succeeded in opening the valves of the uppermost container, from which a stream. of burning gas shot high into the air—fortunately without spreading. When the gas from this container was exhausted, the valves of the other retorts were opened in turn, allowing the gas to escape in dense clouds, which hung over the town for a long period in the still summer air Not until the danger was over did the people of Campbeltown learn of their escape.