TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 6

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

GAS CYLINDER IN HOTEL. POLICE 7 SERGEANT KILLED. Sergeant Qeorgb Thomas Whiteley, officer in charge of the police force at Berripan, New South Wales, was killed arid nine people were injured, when a fire at the Momalong Hotel exploded a gas cylinder in the , bar. A number of olher people were struck by flying fragments but were not injured, The hotel was destroyed. . The fire broke out at half past four o'clock in the morning. It is believed to have originated in one of the parlours of the hotel, which was a large wooden building, situated in the middle of the town. Spreading to the bar, it caused the gas tube to explode with such terrific force that the noise was heard six miles distant. Sergeant Whiteley was struck in the centre of t'hl forehead by a piece of flying metal and died immediately. His dog, which had been standing by his side, ,was also killed.' One piece of gas tubing weighing about/2cwt. was hurled 150 yds. and smaller fragments were picked up 400 yds. away from the hotel. One large piece struck a bank building on the opposite side of the street, damaging a ,window. Nothing was left of the hotel. The boarders were forced to flee for their •lives and lost all their possessions. Sergeant Whiteley leaves a wife and five young children. He was in his 43rd ff ear an d joined the force in 1910.