EXPLOSION IN HOUSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 101, 28 March 1929, Page 4

EXPLOSION IN HOUSE.

SMELL OF PETROL. INFLAMMABLE WASTE FOUND. An explosion, followed by a fire, occurred recently in an unoccupied twostorey brick building of 13 rooms, off Derby Street, Vaucluse, Sydney. After firemen had subdued the flames, police made an inspection of several petrol and kerosene tins, and there were indications that waste, saturated with inflammable mixtures, had been distributed throughout all the rooms of the house. There was a strong smell -of petrol as police worked their way inside the building. WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. Considerable damage was done to the building, though all the walls are still standing. The explosion wrecked the main entrance, and blew out the glass doors and windows. The flames licked greedily through the house, which was almost gutted. The police, it is stated, were informed that the house had been unoccupied since it was sold about October last. Officers of the South Head Signal Station gave the alarm to the fire brigades. The explosion, they said, was followed by a pillar ; of flame, which ran through the house, and lighted up the whole district. Residents in the vicinity of the house described the explosion as terrific. After the’ firemen left the premises a. constable was placed on guard. . <