GIRLS LEAP FROM BLAZING FACTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18013, 25 November 1926, Page 4

GIRLS LEAP FROM BLAZING FACTORY.

STREAM OF FLAMING OIL IN STREET. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, September 28. Thrilling rescues against a background of flame were made this afternoon amid scenes or horror, when a silk lamp shade factory in Manchester was gutted. One woman was burned to death and seven girls were seriously injured. Blazing oil and petrol streamed down the streets, and several children on bicycles skidded. A girl ran into the street with her hair and clothing in flames, while others were seen at the windows [ against the glare of the flames that were enveloping them. Several girls jumped fifteen feet from the window into a yard. A small shed on to which they jumped gave way. The fire was first seen by a passer-by, who shouted to some window-cleaners, “ Oh. my God, bring your ladders, something terrible is happening.” One of the window-cleaners ran up his ladder and brought down two girls in his arms. Then the ladder began to blaze, and that method of rescue had to be abandoned. Strong detachments of the Manchester Fire Brigade then arrived and began to pump vast quantities of water into the blazing premises. Search was made in the ruins for a second woman, who was believed to have perished. The cause of the fire is said to be the explosion of a barrel of petrol. There was thrilling work done by several firemen, as a result of which the injured girls were got out and rushed to the Manchester Royal Infirmary. The victims iverc: DEAD. Rose Pyrah, aged 37, of Lot-hair Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. INJURED. Annie Dawson, aged 14, Mayfair Street, Longsight. Rene Woodhouse, of Brighton Grove. Hilda Armstrong, age 17, of Norwood Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. Margaret Sheridan, aged 16, of Albert Street, Rusholme. Vera Stockton, aged 15, of Craig Road, Gorton. Dorothy Norcot, aged 20, of Mulberry Street, Hulme. Flora Hogg, Bald Street, Moss Side. Traffic was held up by. the fire and a dwelling-house adjoining was damaged. The dead woman was found crouched beneath the window facing the street, where she had evidently collapsed in an attempt to escape. BLAZING OIL STREAMS. The explosion of petrol is said to have been due to excessive heat in the works. Blazing oil and petrol streamed down the streets, and several children on bicycles skidded and suffered cuts and bruises. The dead woman was taken to the mortuary. She was charred beyond recognition. An eye-witness said: “It was one of the most horrible sights I have ever seen. First I heard a terrible bang, then I saw a lot of smoke, and heard girls screaming. A girl rushed into the street with her hair and clothing in flames followed by others. “There were girls at the windows trying to escape from the flames, which were rapidly enveloping them." “Women in the streets were fainting and screaming, horrified at the spectacle of those inside the building whom they could see at the windows.” Another eye-witness said:

EXPLODING BARRELS. “The scene in the street was a horrible one, as the girls dashed from the works, one with her head bleeding. Women in the street fainted. I heard five big bangs,” he added, “as though barrels of oil were exploding.” It is understoood that forty barrels of petrol were in the store-room. Thirteen of these were got away. The lower half of the building was completely destroyed. The fire raged for an hour and a half, despite the prompt arrival of four fire engines and the splendid work by the brigade. Huge stocks of oil were destroyed. The building was at the corner of Plymouth Avenue, and Plyi&outh Grove, and was occupied by Philip Schulman and Co., and Messrs Charles Mack and Company’s oil stores. Where the fire started is not known. The giris in the lamp-shade factory first saw smoke drifting past the window. There was a mad rush for the door, but the staircase was in flames and the fumes of burning oil poured up the stairs. JUMP FROM' WINDOWS. Driven back, the girls tried to escape by the windows, and several of them succeeded in' jumping through the window twelve or fifteen feet to the 3’ard below. To add to the horror a small shed to which the girls jumped gave way. Passers-by picked up three of the girls and rushed them to the infirmary. Chief-Superintendent Corle.tt, of the Manchester Fire Brigade, said: “I have never - seen anything so terrible and quick. By the time we arrived the flames were breaking out into the street, a distance of forty yards from the seat of origin.”