FATAL FILM FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 8

FATAL FILM FIRE

SUDDEX EXPLOSION GERMAN LOSES LIFE ESCAPE OF COMPANION [ST TELEGEiPH —FEESS WELLIXGIOX. Bnig Trapped in a bnOding in Hsorada* filled with intensely hex name? of baraing celluloid, following, the exp&osoc cf a cinematograph Sim Mr. foot, a German, suffered bums on Sa> arday afternoon which caused iis deati in the hospital this morning. Trie explosion happened in tie 521*3 and store of J. J. Curtis and Compaar, Limited, in Harriett Street, irhere ilr. Herfoot and his assistant. Mr. Frank Jocelyn. were packing an old ctseasatograph Sim for export, it is nssdersoxd, to Germanj. where chejnicals are extracted. The film tjs heir"' tacked :a riue-!ined cases about sft. by fft. by 2ft. 6m.. and the *ork wss being diss® in a stable with .3 iarge opening, ia which stood a motor lorry. The explosion occurred wbes Mr. Jocelyn was soldering up a seam in th§ arinc iining of the case. He was bJown out of the door without being injured seriously. The building thee became filled with the San:-es of th<* bJaazsj? film Mr. Herfoot was 'ess fortunate. He wa.s on the roof of the concrete dangerous goods store further inside tie building getting donrc mare cases ia which to pack the film, and he had to chmh down and u;ake his way pt-«s the lorry to get out cf the bunding. WHa his clothes on Sre from, head to foot ba ran out of the stable across the yard and down Harriett StreetThree young sen who had heard the explosion troni where they is? ia. Pitarua Street, o§ Harriett Street, came on the scene. They sax Mr. Herfoot running down the street and coe c* them rushed after him, tripped mta up, and wrapped a military overcoat fcs bad been wearing round Mr. thss extinguishing the fames. The Saraes from the buntisg -baiS-atss leaped to a tremendous height- feorae eye-witnesses said they shot .A-'. . A dividing fence was bumei and a house next, door to the Curtrs ouucasg occupied bv Mrs. A. B. Mow.em ca-g-S tire*. The brigade si 4.-3 and extiru:ui>.hou the £re>. The firemen treated Mr. Herfw*** burns until an ambulance arnvec. lorry standing at the doorway »a* damagtii extensively.