EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7841, 10 January 1887, Page 5

EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

TWO CLERKS INJURED. AST. explosion of gas ooourred in the Bank of New South Wales a few minutes after nine o'clock last night, by which two clerks, Messrs. S. N. Von Sturmer and W. Von Sturraer, wore rather severely buVbed. It occurred under the following circumstances: —Mr. 8. N. Von Sturmer, who is ledgerkeeper, and resides in the bank, returned from a stroll with his cousin, and on entering the bank from the side door detected strong fumes of gas, evidently coming from the strong-room, whioh opens on to the corridor leading to the banking chamber. He unlocked the strong-room door, and procured a light to ascertain where the leak was. • On entering the candle ignited the gas, and an explosion took place. The two men were considerably singed about ' the neck and hands, and also slightly on the face, but fortunately not very seriously- One of them went to the meter to turn off the gas, but was unable to do so; and Mrs. Fisher, wife of the oaretaker of the bank, turned off tho jet in the strong-room, and had assistance procured for the Messrs. Von Sturmer, who were taken across to Mr. S. Gilbert, chemist. Dr. Haines was telephoned for, and was soon in attendance, He dressed the burns, and ordered the removal of the men to the hospital,- where they were taken. The force of the explosion was very great, as it extended along a number of passages on the ground floor, and then rose to the third storey and shattered the skylight Over the main staircase, but the rooflight just . above it was not injured. The shook also brought down a quantity of soot in the chimneys, The damage was confined, however, to the smashing of the skylight, and the partial ignition of i quantity of wrapping paper in the strong room. It is supposed that the • gas jet must have been left turned on, aid there being no outlet the chamber became filled. The noise of the explosion was heard in the Herald office, which adjoins the bank, and it also attracted the attention of several pedestrians in Queen-street.