TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 11

TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS.

jgfX PERSONS INJURED. 'LARGE DISTRICT SHAKEN, 31 ANY BUILDINGS DAMAGED /A tornado of debris. SEW SOUTH WALES TOWN. 'B? Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received .Tan. 31, 9.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SIDNEY, Jan. 31. . Two severe explosions, the roars caused b'v which were heard four miles, occurred in some sheds at the rei:r of Mr. A. J. Benjamin's store, at Chatswood, New South Wales. Six. persons were hurt, two of whom are :in a critical condition. The plate-glass windows of 31 shops •.were blown in, and the roofs of 16 ■dwellings were damaged and their windows were broken. Ths ceiling of the Methodist Church fell in, the tiles were ripped off the roof, and the memorial stained-glass windows were smashed. For five minutes seven streets were iswept bv a tornado of bricks, sheets of galvanised iron, and blazing wooden beams. The surrounding country was shaken over an area of a square mile. The first explosion occurred as a result of a fire in a shed in which petrol was stored. The flames then passed to a brick shed which contained high explosives. This ; second shed seemed simply to bound .bodily into the air. Men who were working in a street 150 •vards away were hurled off their feet by 'ihe concussion. CAUSE OF OUTBREAK. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. ] LIME BURSTS INTO FLAME* (Received Feb. 1, 1.20 a.m.) %. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Jan. 31. The fire which caused the explosions *tv Chatswood was due to spontaneous (Combustion among some lime which was stored .in the first shed. This burst into Jlame when an employee opened the door. The- flames then passed to the petrol !&hed,: sind the petrol exploded.