GAS EXPLOSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14004, 13 September 1909, Page 5

GAS EXPLOSION.

MANv? WITH A; MATCH. BADLY BURNED. Per Press, Association, CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 11. : A loud explosion in;Jf6ssrs P. Haymau and Cb's. warehouse caused consuiera h'e sensi'tio'i in Hereford street about 9 o'clock '-'this'morning."' It appears tliat ivhen Mr Hayinan entered tlio : shoo •ho noticed a strong "smell of; gas., On opening the strongroom it became- more pronounced and Hayman struck a match to investigate: Almost immediately;-a terrific report occurred and a sheet of flame momenttarily enveloped Hayman.. He was thrown violently backward, but luckily was not unconscious. His face and hands were rather, badly burned and ho sustained a very sevcro shock. ' Some idea, of the force of the explosion, may be obtained from the fact thnt i tho back door of tlic ; warehouse which is aboufc ; 12 ■ feet a way from the "strong-room was . shattered vjuto frag-, jmejits,- a.. Jiaving;tp'ho':put -in. -About' five feet'in 'front;of 'the strpi>:r.rooiD' ; is'a. c-»sq- wlpch ; was 'badly scorched byHlio^shect/of-fliihic.