SOAP WORKS ON FIRE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144051, 22 March 1913, Page 2

SOAP WORKS ON FIRE.

'A SERIOUS EXPLOSION. SOME EXCITING SCENES. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, March 21, Gilberd and Sons’ soap works, with one of the most up-to-ciate plants in New Zealand, and employing 19 hands, was destroyed by fire last mgiit. From a spectator’s j)oint of view the sight was a magnificent one. When the fire was at its height there was a tremendous''explosion, of what are supposed to have been drums of perfume. To those at a long distance the whole heavens seemed to be lit up, while tins of fat, soap and debris were scattered in all directions among the spectators close around the fire. It was miraculous that uo one was killed. Three firemen were thrown about twenty feet, but were uninjured. . One tin of tallow, weighing a couple of hundredweight, narrowly missed hitting the fir© engine and a group of firemen. The public, becoming panic-stricken, rushed madly away to escape the flying missiles, numbers of people falling into ditches, and a creek near by. The brigade was summoned from town, and the fire engine was sent down, but only , a small pressure could be obtained from the adjacent creek. The blaze, fed by thirty casks of oil in the upper storey and vats of fat and tallow was tremendous, and the brigade/did remarkably well -£o save Scow's and some.of thd stores adjoining. , The fire is still burning, and will do so for a couple of days-yet. The outbreak is thought to have started in the top storey, behind one of the tallow vats, but how is a mystery. Three hours before, when Mr. Harry Gilberd went through the -works, all was apparently safe. By a strange, coincidence it is three years,; all but two days, since the last fire, -when the works were gtroyed. Although the insurances to-* tal £4600, Gilberds say they will be heavy losers,'owing-to the amount of , stock destroyed, including nearly 70 tons of soap ready for shipment. Tho insurances on stock and buildings are: New Zealand Office £IOOO, South British £IOOO, Royal Exchange £IOOO, Atlas £SOO, Royal £SOO, United £3OO and Sun £3OO.