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.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12021, 26 December 1924, Page 11
Word Count
410A STREET ABLAZE New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12021, 26 December 1924, Page 11
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