POISON GAS ESCAPES
TWO MEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL TENANTS CLEARED FROM BUILDING [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Feb. 18. Occupants of Chancery Chambers, O’Connell Street, were startled from their work at 10.30 a.m. by the cry, “Get out of the building. Gas.” As they wonderingly obeyed the unmistakable odour of chlorine gas assailed their nostrils. What had happened was that the lap of a cylinder of chlorine gas stored in a laboratory on the top floor had jammed when opened and the laboratory assistants, surrounded by clouds of highly poisonous gas, had been unable to close it. Taking the only safe course they warned all tenants of the building to get outside until the gas had blown away.
Two men inhaled sufficient gas to necessitate their removal to hospital by ambulance while other persons in the building breathed enough to make them cough and splutter. Those taken to hospital were John Hayes, aged 24, employee of Candy Filters, Limited, in whose laboratory the cylinder was stored, and J. Bunby. It was stated at noon that neither man was in a serious condition.
The tap of the cylinder was eventually turned off by a man wearing a gas mask and at 11.30, after firemen had pronounced it safe to enter the building, all tenants returned to their offices.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 43, 20 February 1941, Page 6
Word Count
216POISON GAS ESCAPES Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 43, 20 February 1941, Page 6
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