A STREET ABLAZE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12021, 26 December 1924, Page 11

A STREET ABLAZE

TRAMCAR SET ON FIRE EXPLOSION OF ACETYLENE, J A violent explosion in Main street,, Greenock, Scotland,' resulted- in injury to about forty people) ’ fourteen of whom were detained ill the local ■ infirmary . A cylinder containing dissolved mcetylene, fell from, a lorry, and, ripping open, ’ travelled ’ for- some yards along the road. The explosion was causedi by the ignition, by some moans at present unexplained, of the mixture formed fey the escaping acetylene and the air. ’ The force of the explosion was terrific, and the report caused thousands of people to hurry to Hie scene. A lino of working-class houses, extending. for 150 yards, were badly ehat- ■ tered, windows w ing blown in, elates dislodged, brickwork thrown down, and other damage caused. INJURED AMONG DEBRIS. A tramcar filled with passengers was passing the. lorry at the time, and, ’ received the full farce of the explosion, was almost wrecked. Most of the passengers and the driver and conductor were injured, and the tramcar burst into flames. , The clothing cf the driver caught fire, and he rushed into the shipyard, where workmen extinguished the i fia nes -with sacking. He was, however, badly burned. Fortunately help was at hand, and the passenger® ware lifted out from their- gerilops position: ; ; Ano ehcr' -tramraar, ” which had just passed'the sporEywaa'caughb by the explosion, and. passengers were i injured; j I Meantime the lorry, with otheT cyI burst into flames, which , spread [ toAhe woodwork of an adjoining store ! The fire', brigade was quickly on the | spot and extinguished the outbreaks. ! The scene after the explosion was j like an arca ivbicfe had been shewed- : j Many of the injpreß were lying ,cn the ■ street, some stunned end others 1 suffering tom barns, j Doctors and : ambulances were hqr- | ried to .the spot, and, with the aid of I private motor-cars, the injured were I conveyed-to thp infirmary. SjHEEJT OF FLAME. ;; A woman, who was looking out, of her window. when the explosion occurred said the street was filled with flame. ■ Her window was -blown in, and she was out on the face by the broken glass. Among the most seriously injured are Alexander Grant, engipoer, Port Glasgow, who has had a leg amputat edt Afra Sweeney, Greenock, who is suffering -from compound fracture of both legs; Peter Keogh, the driver of one of the tramca-rs; and James Gilmour. 348, Aitken-head road, Glasgow, and William Temtby, 273, •Xahmnp-e street, Glasgow, the crew of tho loriv.