ARSENAL CONFLAGRATION

Northern Advocate, 5 March 1929, Page 5

ARSENAL CONFLAGRATION

ALL WOOLWICH STARTLED. TERRIFIC DETONATIONS. RAIN OF FIERY FRAGMENTS. (Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) (Received 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. Violent explosions which shook Woolwich Arsenal and neighbourhood and were heard for miles, and minor reports extending over 90 minutes followed an outbreak of fire in the arsenal fuse factory consisting of six small circular buildings dotted over a considerable area. Four buildings were practically destroyed. Hundreds of signalling rockets went up, showers of pieces falling a njile and a half distant. One broke a shop window a mile away. A building a mile distant w r as partially unroofed. Dense volumes of smoke, lit up by flames, alarmed the residents of Woolwich, ‘hundreds of whom rushed to the arsenal gates, but an immediate explosion occurred and the employees were ordered to leave. Many rushed out in their overalls. Forty-five fire engines which responded to district calls strenuously fought the flames for over two hours to prevent them spreading to other danger areas. The hydrants were frozen, wdiieh necessitated water being drawn from the Thames, The War Office announces that 19 injured persons were sent home after treatment.