A VIOLENT EXPLOSION

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 19

A VIOLENT EXPLOSION

FOUR SHOPS WRECKED. MELBOURNE, March 19. Four shops situated in Brunswick street., Fitzroy, were destroyed by a mysterious explosion. Eleven persons resided in the wrecked premises. A man named Crabtree, a grocer, was seriously injured, being buried -in the debris.- Mrs Sneddon and her daughter were seriously hurt. The •explosion, which was accompanied by a vast sheet of flame, is supposed to be attributable to gas, but the details are meagre. March 20. The four shops were almost demolished by the explosion. A man named Shaw has confessed to the police that recently Crabtree effected an insurance over his stock and removed , about £4OO worth of it. Shavings were carted in in large quantity, and be and ! Crabtree saturated these with methylated spirits and benzine on Friday night. It I wes arranged that when the place was I well alight Shaw, should jump from the J verandah and .give the alarm r but the scheme miscarried, as when Crabtree ! struck a light a violent "explosion foli lowed. 'Shaw knew no more after that. The explosion damaged 47 other buildings, the majority slightly. All the w-indows on both sides of the street for a long distance were shattered. March 21. According to the confession of Shaw, who was Crabtree's assistant, preparations for the fire had been proceeding for three w r eeks. The goods were removed during the night to another of Crabtree'3 shops at Brunswick. Crabtree.. has been confronted with i 'Shaw's confession. While modifying his ■ own previous statement, he denied Shaw's J story. He stated that he found that the i taps of the gas stove had been turned on. "When he lighted a match the exi plosion followed. The' detectives state that they have evidence supporting Shaw's story. Crabtree's leg was broken, and he was badly burned. Crabtree and Shaw both remain in the hospital. The Sneddon family had a miraculous | escape. ■ One little girl, -who was lying jin bed, was buried in. the debris, anil was only saved from being crushed to dea£h by a door jamming her. The girl Lewis fell, in her bed. from the top room, to - the next floor, and was uninjured.