SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3107, 17 March 1883, Page 2

SERIOUS GAS EXPLOSION.

[By Telegbaph.] Wellington, March 17. A serious explosion of gas took placs in the refreshment room of Peter Laing’a confectionery establishment, Lambton Quay. It appears that last night the chandelier had been pulled so far down as to cause a leak in Mr Laing’s, and when the cook (David Smith) entered the room this morning at 6 o’clock, the air was strongly impregnated with gas. Smith struck a match to. see where the leak was, and a terrible explosion followed, Smith being blown into the next room through the open doorway, and being seriously burned about the head, face, shoulders, and arms, but not very dangerously. The outer door was blown open and the skylight and windows were broken out, pictures smashed &c. Mr Laing himself was blown through another doorway right on to the counter of the shops and was burned about the face and hands. He had, however, the presence of mind to take off his coat and beat out the flame which had seized on inflammable contents in the room. '1 he two doors being open greatly lessened the force of the explsion, or the consequence would have been very serious.