FAILURE OF LIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 16 January 1939, Page 3

FAILURE OF LIGHT

SIX ENGLISH TOWNS NIGHT OF DARKNESS 50,000 FAMILIES SUFFER LONDON, 15th December. Hospitals, cinemas, factories and the homes of 50.000 families were plunged into darkness last night when a fire caused serious damage at Kingston power-station. Half-a-dozen towns in an area of about 25 square miles were affected by the “black-out.” Early this morning, Kingston, Walton-on-Thames, Hersham and Weybridge were among the districts stil without electric light. Engineers worked throughout the night, in the glare of searchlights operated by territorials, in an effort to repair some of the damage, estimated to amount to £IOO,OOO at the power-sta-tion. The resources of every electricity undertaking in the country, including the Central Electricity Board, were employed in an effort to provide an emergency lighting system. HOSPITAL SURGEONS’ DIFFICULT TASK A limited supply was restored at Twickenham and Surbiton, and in a broadcast message consumers were asked to be as sparing with electric light as possible. Two operations were performed at hospitals with the aid of emergency lighting. At West Molesey and Hampton Court Hospital nurses held torches while the surgeon continued working. A serious operation on a woman patient at a nursing home at East Molesey had just started when the lights failed. It was completed successfully. The staff at Kingston Victoria Hospital. where most of the cases are of a serious surgical nature, worked under extreme difficulties throughout the night. The wards were lighted by hurricane lamps. CHAOTIC TRAFFIC CONDITIONS Chaotic traffic conditions at Kingston caused by the failure of the lights were made worse by a thick fog. Traffic lights stopped operating, and extra police and special constables were called out to assist in regulating the traffic. Improvised lighting was introduced at street corners. Police with hurricane lamps conducted pedestrians across the streets. Hampton Court Palace was in complete darkness. The curator of pictures there said that they were forbidden to use naked lights. At the Royal paddocks the grooms inspected the horses by flashlights. TELEPHONE GIRLS IN THE DARK Packed audiences at cinemas were Left in darkness, and some remained for more than half an hour, passing the time in community singing. At telephone exchanges girls answered calls in darkness until emergency lighting was supplied. A crowd of 500 playgoers waited outside Richmond Theatre until the manager told them a performance would be impossible. The play produced there last week was ‘Gaslight.” The night staff could not go on duty ct the Hawker Aircraft factory at Kingston. TURMOIL AT A ZOO Keepers at Chessington Zoo, near Surbiton, were about to feed the animals when the lights failed. Feeding was delayed in the hope that the breakdown would be quickly repaired, but after half an hour the animals weie roaring and the zoo was in turmoil. “We eventually fed the animals by the light of hurricane lamps and electric torches.” said Mr R. R. Goddard, proprietor of the zoo. “The 16 keepers had a difficult time moving about in the darkness, as the animals were angry at being neglected for so long.”