NELSON SENSATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1821, 30 July 1906, Page 2

NELSON SENSATION.

BAD FINDING OF A GAS LEAK. SSljgEil PRESS ASSOCIATION

Nelson, Saturday. At 6.30 thiß morning a sensation was caused at the junotion of Trafalgar and Hardy streets by a terrifio gas explosion, whioh was heard half over tbe town. It appears that two corporation men, Kenning, the foreman, and Yerooe, laborer, were in the vioinity of the Symons memorial fountain, whioh bore a cluster of four or five gas lamps. A smell of gas was noticed, on which one of the men elruok a mateh. ■ Immediately an explosion occurred, blowing the pillar of the fountain in the air, aud shattering the ironwork and glass, which was scattered in all directions. Yerooe. who was nearest the perforations of tbe trough oommumo-tcing wita the gasoutlet was thrown violently to tbe ground some distance away, with b’s head severely ou‘ a"d other >i juries. He was removed t - -h hnr'pital 1,. 40 nnoo" Clous Gnndllion, "1 hi -tnC Is 0 Itioal K -nning was also r>.ro<4an3. was .bruised and out about the face snd hands, but not seriously. The f. roe of' the explosion may be gauged by the fact that a pieoe of debris burst through the Mbsodio Hotel parlor window, breaking iti The cause of tbe explosion was that the fountain pillar and its base were hollow, and formed practically a gas reservoir. As soon es the matoh was lit Ihe escape of gas caught alight, with the result stated. Had the aooident ooourred to-night, when crowds were in the streets, its effeot would hove been muoh pore serious.