ESCAPE OF GAS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144669, 1 May 1915, Page 2

ESCAPE OF GAS.

IN WELLINGTON CITY. FIVE PERSONS KILLED. PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 30. Two men, residing in opposite houses in Mulgrave Street, were found dead in their beds this morning. Tho circumstances arc similar, and apparently point to asphyxiation by gas as the cause. At the same time there are reports of two fires breaking out in gas meters, while residents in several parts of the city complain of escapes of gas and sickness resulting therefrom. Tho two men dead are Walter Holmes and James Robert Smith. Tho-former was single, aged 39, and worked on a wharf; he resided at No. 19 Mulgrave Street. Last night he went back to work, and icturned to tho house after the other occupants had retired, ; going to his room at the ton of the stairs. It had no gas jet, nor was there any in any of the upstairs rooms. Sleeping on the same floor were another man and children. On getting up at about 5.30 o’clock tins morning. Mrs. Johnson, the landlady, noticed a strong smell of gas, and tried all the taps, and found that the hall light had been turned on to a slight extent. Thinking this the cause of -the smell, she turned off the jet. and went about her work, but the smell did not diminish. Wondering . why Holmes Lad not come downstairs, she went to call him. As she passed the gas meter behind the hall cloor -she heard the hiss of gas rushing from the meter through the register. There appeared to be no water in tho meter. On proceeding upstairs. Mrs. Johnson found Holmes lying dead in bed, the door being slightly ajrav and the window half open, creating a draught. The doors of the other rooms had been shut at night, but a man who occupied one room had been very sick, and had to receive medical attention. James Piohert Smith resided at’ No. 14, a boardiug-houso kept by Mrs. Evelyn Bennett, situated' exactly opposite to No. 19. He was an engine- ■ driver, employed by tho 'Government Railway Department at Thqrndon yards. He had formerly resided at Gisborne. He was single, 19 years of"age. His fiarents live at'Westport. Ho had been iving at Mulgrave Street for three weeks. His room was on the second floor, and it contained no gas jet, but the gas meter. Deceased was last seen about 10 p.m., when he was m his usual health. At 7.30 to-day,’Mrs. Bennett went to call him,, and found him' lying dead in bed. His&yes were wide open, there being signs of ' frothing’ at' the mouth and vomiting. The window of the room was half open.. There w-as a strong smell of gas. - The two gas meter fires mentioned occurred within a few minutes of each other last night. At 10.30 the fire brigade was called to No. 125 Molesworth Street, occupied by Mrs. Maud England, Who, in looking for an escape of gas, had struck a match. As the'front door stood open for ventilation pur- ’ poses, the explosion was minimised, the meter' only being damaged.

The second call came at 10.4 S from 26 MacDonald Crescent, a three-storied apartment building. The gas meter had caught fire, but the outbreak was suppressed without difficulty. The other cases of gas escaping, apparently through no water being in the meter, was reported from Taranaki Street and various parts of Thomdon, Cuba: Street, Lambton Quay and other places. The constable on duty last night turned off’ several meters, as he noticed the hiss of escaping gas. In two cases the resident suffered from the effects of gas, though l their meters Were outside tho house. _ In some instances the effect was so sericus that the doctor had to be called in.

Three Chinese were found dead this afternoon. They were fruiterers occupying a shop at 328 Tinakori Road. As the shop was not opened neighbours became uneasy, and notified the police. Later they forced an entranbe'and found three young Chinese dead in bed. Young King was jn one room, and in a room on tho opposite side of tho passage the other two. Young Wong, and Young Citing were lying iu separate beds. The bodies were removed to the morgue. A strong smell of gas was noticed by the police when they entered the premises. An inquest on all the victims will probably fee held on Monday. The Gas Company officers were’able to' give no explanation of the occurrence, which is regarded as mysterious, and investigations as to the cause .are being conducted.