EXPLOSION OE GAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5687, 5 October 1896, Page 3

EXPLOSION OE GAS.

STARTLING OCCURRENCE IN A BANK. [Per Press Association.! BLENHEIM, Oct. 5. . A startling affair happened at the Bank of New Zealand this morning. Shortly after eleven the teller, Mr H. Witchell, had occasion to go to the strong room, and struck a match to light the gas, when a terrific explosion occurred. The thick plate glass windows on the ground floor in the Market Street and High Street frontages were blown out in fragments, the Venetian blinds were torn, and in one or two instances the window sashes were broken. The papers, cheques and notes in use were strewn all over the room in wild confusion. Mr Witchell had a narrow escape. He was burned about the face and arms, and his hair was singed. The ledger-keeper was hurled from his desk i nto the manager's room. The rest of the staff escaped without harm. A few passers-by in the streets were slightly cut by flying pieces of glass. The violence of the explosion caused the buildings in the vicinity to vibrate, and- in several the windows were broken. An examination of the strongroom revealed a leak in a gas pipe over the door. The papers in the strong-room caught fire, but this was soon extinguished. The escape of the officials from serious injury is regarded as miraculous.