ROOF BLOWN OFF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19827, 29 April 1927, Page 8

ROOF BLOWN OFF

BIG EXPLOSION FELT OVER MILE RADIUS. SYDNEY, April 26. A terrific explosion of an oxyacetylene welding cylinder last nig’-* blew off the roof of a shed at the biggest garage in town, split a nine-inch wall, and blew plate-glass windows right out. The shed in which the, cylinder was housed caught fire, and the total damage was £lOOO. The whole town was alarmed by tho explosion, which shook nearly every building within a mile radius, and brought people running into the streets.

“Another safe blown?’’ many asked, remembering last week’s sensational robberies; but with such an explosion there would have been little left of the robbers.

Then flames shot up from a shed at the roar of the Minto motor garage in Gaurwood street, where the exploding cylinder had blown the roof off. Largo plate-glass windows in front of the garage was blown right out, and thn glass partition dividing the show rooms was shattered. Portion of a motor truck was blown away, but 20 cars escaped damage. A wall 9in. thick was split and shaken about 2ft. out of “plumb.” Windows of business places and private residences over a large area were shattered.

Tools and lumber were destroyed in the fire, which was soon put out.