EXPLOSION WRECKS HOUSE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2340, 9 January 1926, Page 12

EXPLOSION WRECKS HOUSE

CHILDREN UNCONSCIOUS SINGULAR LONDON ACCIDENT. A dwelling-house was wrecked in London recently hy an explosion of gas in a house in Fulham, and several small Arcs followed. Mrs Florence one of the occupants, was struck on the head by the kitchen door, and had to have three stitches in the iVound. The cause of the explosion is not known, but at an early hour in the morning Mr. P. K. Melvin, who resides with his family at No. 25, Fulham Road, detected an escape of gas Ho found four of his children already unconscious. With difficulty ho brought his eldest son round, and sent Jilm for thn doctor, who attended to the others until they recovered. When tho children were all right, Mr. Melvin went to No. 27 to warn the inmates, but found that they had already notiAed the Gas Company of a leakage. About 10 o'clock there was a terrlAo explosion at No. 27. Doors were blown off their hinges, and plaster was shaken from the walls and ceilings. The front door was blown to the opposite side of the road. At tho back of the house a largo part of the wall, the window frames, and the door posts were blown into the garden. The rooms were in a state of disorder, and much of the furniture was broken. Several small Ares followed the explosion, but they wore promptly ex. tinguiahed by the Are brigade. An employee of the Gas Company, who was in a trench which was being dug io trace tho leak, was blown in to the street, but escaped without injury, and resumed his work. Houses in the vicinity were damaged by the explosion. As a precautionary measure the police turned everyone out of Nos 25 and 27. The families were looked after by tho neighbours. • ,