HEARD FOR MILES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22437, 5 June 1936, Page 10

HEARD FOR MILES

A TERRIFIC BLAST ORDEAL OF EMPLOYEES • MANY NARROW ESCAPES SEVERE SHOCK FOR GIRLS A dull roar which was heard for miles, and a blast that shook the whole neighbourhood, followed the explosion, which occurred in the main building of the company. A large staff was working at various machines, assembling sporting ammunition, when without warning the building was rent. The explosion occurred in the vicinity of a capping machine tended by Miss Clifford, who had one leg torn off, and was killed instantaneously. The five other employees who were severely injured, although working near her, did not receive the full force of the blast of air, which capsized a heavy machine, broke nearly every pane of glass in the building, and forced part of one wall of the wood and iron building into the yard. Showers ol Broken Glass

Showers of glass in jagged splinters, fell upon the workers, who were enveloped in dense yellow smoke as they staggered beneath the force of the explosion. In spite of the severe shock and many minor injuries, those who escaped lightly were quick to aid others less fortunate. The wounded were helped through heaps of class to the open air, and given first-aid. Urgent telephone calls were made to the hospital, the headquarters of the St. John Ambulance, and the police, and an alarm of fire was given when a minor outbreak was detected. A fire engine from the Mount Eden station was followed by four ambulances, and a party of police, reinforced by traffic officers, assisted in the rescue work and in the direction of traffic. Large Orowd Assembles Two ambulances were sufficient to take to hospital the five victims who were admitted. The drivers of the other two machines attended to employees who were suffering from minor cuts. The brigadesmen had no difficulty in controlling the outbreak of fire. So large a crowd assembled within A few minutes that it was necessary to close the gates against all but those who had urgent business inside. Men were set to work to sweep away as much as possible of the glass that had been scattered over a wide area, and others endeavoured to rostore some measure of order in the building, and clear away the wreckage. Scene ol Explosion

Shortly after the injured had been removed, the many girls employed at the works commenced to leave. All bore traces of the ordeal through which they had passed. < Broken windows in three sides of the main building were all that could be seen from tho road, but tho full effect of tho explosion was evident when an inspection of the damaged structure was made. The building is a long, single-storeyed factory, running back from Normanby Road toward the Grammar School property, and has a two-storeyed portion at the western end by tho main entrance. Tho explosion occurred on the southern side of a largo. room iu tho sinele-storoy part of tho building. Cause Not Ascertained Tho cause of the explosion has 'not been ascertained, but it vras stated officially that percussion-caps exploded either at Miss Clifford's machine, or else immediately behind her. Tho heavy machine was capsized, and a wooden support, 12in. thick, was dislodged. Scarcely a pane of glass remained intact, either in the skylights or windows. The blast forced each pane outward. and in somo cases stripped the glass flush with tho frame. A large section of tho wall nearest to which the explosion occurred, was torn away, and sheets of corrugated iron, were scattered about tho yard. Grammar School Shaken Occupants of homes near the works wore startled by tho explosion, which rocked their houses and rattled the windows. Tho upper storeys of tho Auckland Grammar School seemed to lurch, and boys were cautioned by tho masters not to give way to panic if a more severe shock followed tho first. One master said that tho floor of his room swayed as though an eartliQuako had occurred. From his window he could seo a cloud of dirty-yellow smoko rising from the works in Normanby Road. Wreckage had been cleared away, and improvised coverings fixed over the broken windows, before dark. Small groups of people still lingered outside

the gates, even when all employees had left except two who were starting the first stage of an all-night watch. "There was a terrific explosion, and the place was filled with smoke and flying glass," said a girl whose pallor and trembling hands were testimony of the shock from which she was suffering. She did not know exactly what had happened, or how many of her fellowVorkers had been injured; only that she had found herself unhurt and thankful to be safe. Signs of Severe Strain Similar stories were told by other girls, as they left the works to go home. Some were in tears, others laughing nervously, and a few were plainly too dazed to realise anything but that they had escaped serious injury. Almost without exception they showed signs of severe nervous strain, and many who had borne themselves with composure throughout the ordeal broke down when they were greeted by anxious relatives who had assembled at the gates. Singly, or in pairs or small parties, the girls left the works without any of the casual banter that is a usual part of their day. Some were holding band» for mutual comfort, and occasionally two who had stood the strain better than most would appear supporting between them a girl whose frayed nerves prevented her from walking unaided to one of the waiting motor-cars. Parents and Wives Few were able to discuss the tragedy without signs of emotion, and none could give a coherent account of what had occurred-. The majority were anxious to reach home as quickly as possible, although a few lingered outside the gates, aimlessly watching the constant stream of official visitors that entered

Among the anxious faces in the crowd that soon assembled in Normanby Road were those of parents whose children were employed at the works, and wives whose husbands had been too busy to make even a temporary appearance at the gates to reassure those waiting that they were safe. Eager inquiries wero made of the men guarding the gateway, and there were moving scenes when worries were set at rest by the appearance of people of all ages who showed no signii of injury. Thoughtful Motorists ,

Motor-cars were waiting to take employees to their homes. Passing motorists offered their cars freely, and full advantage was taken of their generosity. Most of the girls who had been working in the portion of the building where the explosion occurred were on their way homo within a short time.

HOSPITAL PREPARED PROMPT MEASURES TAKEN Prompt measures wero taken at the Auckland Hospital when the first report of the accident was received. Within five minutes, 30 beds were ready, porters were standing by, extra nurses had been assembled and the casualty department was cleared, with every available doctor on duty. "We could have taken 30 patients straight away," said Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent. He explained that although the hospital was full, even more accommodation could have been arranged had it been urgently required.