MELBOURNE EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1925, Page 2

MELBOURNE EXPLOSION

CAUSED BY GELIGNITE. PEOPLE THROWN OUT OF BED, AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION: (Deceived this day at 9 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 20. Details of the explosion show a tiro was observed in a two-storey brick building in Bridge Hoad occupied by G. Duncan as a motor anil electrical accessories simp, shortly alter mid-.J- — night. Duncan’s young wife and two children also lived there. T! ic flames were noticed issuing from the roof by a man living opposite be had hardly noticed the outbreak when a terrific explosion lilted tho building from its foundations and . crumbled it in a heap ol ruins. Coincident with the explosion was a great sheet of flame which shot into I lie air. debris of all descriptions being sea tiered around. The windows in every shop were shattered, fittings dislodged and stocks cv|M>-ed and scattered in all directions,^*’ 'Hu* exposed slocks nroxed too great - a Icm plat ion Lo the crowds who quickly gathered and looting became rife. The concussion of the explosion threw the neighbours out of bed, while others were covered by showers of falling plaster. The flames were quickly controlled, hut the firemen worked frantically all night in an endeavour to extricate people supposed to be buried in the ruins. Early this morning word was received that Duncan and his family were away for the week-end. police investigations showed that the __ explosion was not due to petrol as at y—' first supposed, hut was deliberately caused by gelignite, several plugs of which were found in the vicinity. li is suggested the explosion is tho result oi a filed of which Duncan is tin* innocent victim. The police are looking for a mail disci*,urged from jail a short time ago. ■ Altogether the frontages of thirtythree shops xxere destroyed. The damage is estimated at, C.'100.000. Although there xvore many nurroxv esenpes no one xxas injured. The force of the explosion xvas felt at Hawthorne, 22f mites axvay, xvhere it xvas thought to he an earth tiemoi.