THE BIG EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1917, Page 1

THE BIG EXPLOSION

(V?ore Details. (Aas (ralinrut N.Z, Cable AcßJciatn n and Reuter). LONDON, Jan 21. The hro started in the mixing shop. Dr. Angell,' the chief chemist, whilst advising the operatives to seek safety, himself made an attempt to combat-the tire and perished. The flames spread to the adjoining building, wherein a quantity of ~ high explosives were stored. There was great destruction of glass within an enormous area, while an awful bouquet fc'll on. the surrounding buildings. Firemen, police ambulances and military rushed to the scone. The .casualties were so heavy that the ambulances ere insufficient to remove the victims to the hospitals, and military ambulances wero summoned and motor buses and other vehiales in the streets requisitioned.

REMOVING THE WOUNDED.. Finally a five-minute convey was organised, and the more seriously injured quickly conveyed to the hospitals, which were commandeered. It was impossible for doctors and nurses in the hospitals to keep a record of the number of patients. v There was a terrible scene when ■ a large two-storeyed flourmill burst into flames, and 1 it is feared that many therein perished, hut owing to the impossibility of getting such a blaze under control the firemen were obliged to devote their energies to saving neigh bouring properties. The flames spread swiftly until over an area of nearly a square mile fires wero burning, making it necessary to demolish‘Several buildings, thus cheeking the progress of the conflagration. The fire, men wero thus able to restrict the outbreak to a' definite area. Troughout the night and well into the day they worked heroically. Nurses, ambulance men, Roy Scouts, and girl guides co-operated to alleviate suffering. Many pathetic incidents were recorded. Many munition workers wero enabled to leave the building in the interval between the outbreak and the explosion.

TERRIBLE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION. The force of tne explosion was‘felt seven or eight miles away. Many windows wore broken. Those Giving in city hotels on the Thames Embankment thought it was an earthquake. An eye-witness three miles away described it as an appalling spectacle. The sky for miles round gloaiiied like burnished copper. SCENE OF DESOLATION. v . The area presents a wide scene of desolation and smoking ruins. Walls were shattered and roofs blown off. Windows and doors were blown from their fastenings and remnants of chimneys and gables are littering the causeways.

At the sound of the first explosior the inhabitants rushed into the streets terror stricken. The second caught them as the concussion stripped th« roofs and showers of slates fell on- their unprotected hefids and numbers were injured in this way, but the destruction and terror in the lanes in the vicinity were nothing compared to the appalling scenes in t|ie nearer region of the explosion fires. 1

FIRES SPREAD. A series of fires quickly developed over a considerable area. . Great factories employing many men women, and girls were soon gigantic masses of flames, the glow lighting the river and suburbs for miles. Dismantled houses were used as temporary mortuaries and private houses received the more seriously wounded. > ..MOST TERRIBLE ON RECORD. The explosion- was ome of the most terrible experienced in the Metropolis. The entire city to the outlying suburbs was shaken. Fires caused by flying debris enveloped an area involving a number of industrial concerns and many houses. j

LIST OF CASUALTIES. Forty are reported killed but this was apparently estimated at the first accident to the factory, which was entirely destroyed. As the fire spread roof after roof collapsed with tem-ific crashes. It was a scene of awful grandeur. As “evidence of the i’orco of the explosion a piece of boiler weighing three of four tons was found 400 yards away. Another piece weighing a ton crashed into a butcher’s shop killing the occupants. Twenty-one died in ten hospitals yesterday. Therefore the death roll is now between fifty and sixty. The inpatients number about 112 and in addition 265 more slightly Injured were treated. The people flow from the burning and shattered buildings, and soon found ready-' solidary. All classes mobilised to succour the wounded and rescue the living from filie wreckage, everyone, men and women, nobly playing their part.

PANIC PREVENTED. Great crowds congregated, but the sightseers were not permitted within a mile or more of the actual scene. The origin cannot actually he determined at present. The establishment of a cordon in the zone of operations averted confusion and panic. The firemen’s task was difficult and dangerous but ultimately they overcame all obstacles. There .were some remarkable rescues The combined efforts of the firemen,

soldiers, police and ambulance men were marked with high courage, their presence of mind saving’ many. Considering the magnitude of .the disaster it is a wonder that the deaths were not

far greater. The power of modern high explosives was plainly clemonstratled. Boiler plates weighing tons' were hurled hundreds of yards and twisted iron gilders fell greater distances, A rain

of small fragment was scattered widely and started fires in neighbouring factories. • ' _ LONDON, Jan. 21. Sightseers flocked in such numbers on Sunday to the scene of the explosion that the railways discontinued book- . ings at certain stations. The authorities diverted the traffic in various ways in order to leave tne search parties unhampered. Despite these precautions there was enormous congestion in the neighbourhood. > The search parties continue tlieir gruesome task among the ruins, ana s several more bodies have been found; but days must elapse before the full ; human toll is measured. . Intercessory services were held in all ; the churches, many .of which devotea their collections to the relief of the . distress. LONDON, Jan. 21. A cinema was showing an Anero battle picture when the explosion occurred, \and amidst a volley of stage thunder the audience loudly applauded unaware of the actual fact that it was a real explosion and that several wi--dows were blown in. LONDON. Jan. 21. Such a aday as Sunday was never known before in London Hospitals. Many victims, alive and aeaa, are not yet identified. People jou A eyed from" hospital to 'hospital scanning the lists. Tho hospitals were transformed with wonderful speed to receive patiqnts. All available space, including the corridors, were utilised. Vehicles of every description arrived with victims disfigured, maimed ami limbless. Many critical operations demanded instant performances. Those were treated in such numbers that the usual forms’were thrown/to the winds. Relatives/ invaded the wards and searched unbidden. LONDON, Jan. 22. . The explosion casualties up till Sunday niglit are: Bodies recovered, between 30 and 40, Died in hospital, 24. Seriously injured, 123. Slightly injured, 453. * This list is still incomplete. For the purpose of -housing the homeless the authorities have adopted the billeting system.

They have also housed a number in public buildings. I* ully armed troops with fixed bayonets guarded the ruins on Sunday. It appears that Doctor Angell was on the top floor where tho fire started. He ordered the workers out and gave the alarm to the fire brigade. He then returned to search iur stragglers, and was not seen again. When the first eases began to arrive the hospital matron asked the manager of a large firm in the vicinity: “For God’s sake telephone" to'all hospitals in London to send all help possible,” but the explosion cut off nearly all telephone communication, but the police came*to the rescue. '

There were several alarms as tfio flames, fanned by a stiff breeze," threat*, ened fresh destruction. On the cry that there were explosives stored in the buildings ther were several stampedes, untill the crowd’s attention was distracted by the grim procession of Lorries?, motors, -and ambfulancies with their burdens of dead and dying. Rot tlie least terrifying sights were the dead" on doors and abutters placed on the a waiting removal. LONDON, Jan. 22. The following are incidents of tho great explosion:

A woman was notified in the morning that her husband was killed in France. In the evening she had six children killed in tho explosion. A man reaching home found his wife and two children killed and throe children missing. The “Daily Mail” estimates tne death roll at 300.