A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3801, 18 January 1927, Page 16

A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

DUE TO BLASTING POWDER FAMILY’S NARROW ESCAPE. CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. A terrific explosion which . shook the whole neighbourhood occurred in the home of Mr E. A. Emmett, carrier, of 36 Francis street, Burwood, about half-past 1 o’clock this morning. The explosion completely wrecked the house, which consisted of five rooms, but, although the family had a narrow escape, no one was injured. -Last night Mr Emmett prepared some blasting powder, which he intended to use for removing old tree stumps, and he carefully stored it in two screw-top preserving jars. By some means the powder, which had been left in the kitchen, exploded. The house was occupied at the time by Mr and Mrs Emmett and their two children —a boy aged four years and an infant girl. The little boy was sleeping next to the room where the explosion occurred, and had a very narrow’ escape from death. The expl sion completely wrecked the kitchen and blew boards off the wall above the boy’s bed. One side of the house was blown out, and the rest of the house was shattered. All the windows were smashed, and the occupants had a miraculous escape from the flying glass. The room where Mr and Mrs Emmett and the baby w’ere sleeping escaped severe damage, but the window’s were broken ami the walls were buckled. The explosive mixture was sufficient to blast 40 logs. All the residents in the locality were awakened by the explosion, and some went to the assistance of Mr and Mrs Emmett. No difficulty was experienced in extricating the family from the wrecked house. The force of the explosion was felt a quarter of a mile away, houses in the vicinity being badly shaken.