HURLED ON TO A BOOR

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7071, 12 April 1901, Page 2

HURLED ON TO A BOOR

■ "♦ !gas explosion in dunedin. .«* a narrow escape. , AS sensation was caused in Dunedin a few evenings ago, When it became known, that Mr J. J. Ramsay, shaarebroker, of Crawford Street, had been hurled on to the roof of Messrs J. Rattray and Son's bond, close by, owing to an explosion, of gas in his office. The explosion was heard all over the city, and thousands of people soon assembled in the vicinity of the damaged building. " I went to my office for the purpose of writing a letter to my wife," says Mr Ramsay. "I had no sooner opened the front door, and was proceeding up stairs, wihen my attention was attracted by the smell of gas. I made for the main office, being very careful as to lighting the gas. Having addressed 1 my letter, I went to the tooth of Mr Matthewson (a member of the firm) to use the telephone. Th& door of this room opens off the main office, and to the best of my belief it was open at the time. I did not smell the gas there at all, but as soon as I struck a match io the room, and/ was in the act of putting it to the jet, there was an immediate flare of gas or fire above me. lat once turned round, • ducked,' and made for- the main office, but I never reached there. All of a sudden there was a terrific explosion, and I next found myself blown out with the brick wall on to Rattray's roof. I was slightly stunned, but I ' had my senses about me for the greater part of the time, and realised exactly what had occurred. I picked myself up, and was surprised to find that I was all right. I then climbed up into the office again, and went downstairs. I opened the door, and with the assistance of several people, who were attracted to the scene by the explosion, turned off the meter." ; Mr Ramsay appears to have had a miraculous escape, and it is a wonder that he was not killed. So far, however, his injuries appear to be only slight..