THE MELBOURNE FIRE.

West Coast Times, 22 March 1910, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE FIRE.

[p£B PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT ] MELBOURNE, March 21. According to the confession of Shaw who was Crabtree's assistant the preparations for the fire were proceeding for three works. Goods were removed during the night to another of Crabtree’s shops at Brunswick. Crabtree was confronted with Shaw’s confession, and while modifying his own previous statement, denied Shaw’s story. He stated he found the taps of the gas stove turned on and when he lit a match an explosion followed. Detectives state that they have evidence suporting Shaw’s story. Crabtree’s leg was broken and he was badly burned. Crabtree and Shaw remain at the hospital, The Sneddon family had a miraculous escape. One little girl was lying in bed and was buried in the debris, and was only saved from being crushed to deatli by a door jambing. The girl Lewis, who was also in bed, fell from a top room to the next floor, but was uninjured.