FATAL EXPLOSION IN MELBOURNE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 331, 5 July 1875, Page 4

FATAL EXPLOSION IN MELBOURNE.

(Argus, June 22.) An explosion of gas, causing the death of one man and serious injuries to another, occurred last night in an outhouse belonging to the Theatre Royal. The Theatre Royal managers manufacture oxygen and hydrogen gas for the production of stage effects in two small gasometers in a sort of she! on the east side of the stage, but altogether outside the main building. The wall of the main building is 2ft thick, and the only entrance into the shed from the stage is by a stout iron door, so that there is no danger of an explosion of the gas affecting the stage or the auditorium of the theatre. The gasometer in which the explosion took place was about 10ft high and 2ft 6iu in diameter, and was used to contain hydrogen gas. Another, somewhat smaller, alongside it, which was not injured, contained oxygen gas. The two gases were made in the shed, and were conducted from the gasometers by small pipes into the theatre and upon the stage. The two gases met at a point where the lime light was produced, for the purpose of imitating moonlight'nnd other stage effects, borne six w?eks ago it was found that the hydrogen gasometer required repair, and the person in charge, Wm. Millistt. was directed to have the repairs effected. He cillcd in the aid of O’Kane Brothers, gasfitlers, Little Bourke street east, who effected the repairs under his direction. When the gasfitters applied to Mr R. Stewart for payment two or three weeks ago he refused to pay until Mr Millistt had expressed entire satisfaction with the repairs, and delayed payment till yesterday week, when the bill was paid, as Mr Millistt said everything had been done to his satisfaction. Everything went on well then till yesterday evening, when Mr Millistt went into the shed, with a young man of nineteen or twenty, named Sydney Smith, in the employ of O'Kaue Brothers, for the purpose, it is supposed, of finding out and closing some small leak. They took a port fire and soldering iron with them, and it is supposed mounted on the top of the hydrogen gasometer to look for the leak, taking with them, it is believed, a lighted candle. A terrific explosion was heard at about a quar-ter-past six, at which time, it is surmised, they were on the gasometer looking for the leak. Two men employ d about the place named Bailer and Marshall, and constable White, went t© the shed, and found the gasometer thrown down in the shed, and a large irregular bole some 4ft wide torn in the corrugated iron roof of the shed. On the shed near this rent they found Mr Millistt lying doubled up, and on moving him discovered that his leg was broken, and that he was apparently injured internally. He was conscious, but did not seem to know what had happened, and asked where he was. Some one then called out that the young man '’Sydney) who had been in the shed with him could not be found. A search was made, and ultimately Smith was found in a confused heap on the top of a two s'ory brick building adjoining the shed. The force of the explosion had propelled both men right through the roof of corrugated sheet iron, but while Millistt had fallen back upon the roof, Sydney Smith had been cast in a slanting direction some 17ft higher, over a chimney, and upon the two story brick building. He was taken down, and MrCrossen, Burgeon, who had been ,sent for, examined him, and found that he was quite dead, his neck being broken. One arm was also broken, and the head was cut and bleeding profusely. Smith’s body was removed to the morgue, and Millistt was conveyed to the Melbourne Hospital, where it was found that he had sustained compound fracture of the leg and injury to the face. It was also feared that his back was hurt, and that he had sustained internal injuiies, but this could not be ascertained, lie was suffering greatly from general shock to the system, Millistt is about forty years old. The unfortunate accident did not interfere in any way with the performance at the theatre last evening. It is stated that it is very unusual to have die gasometer outside a theatre, as in this ease, and the accident shows how necessary it is that they should be kept apart, as they are at the Boyal, from the main building No damage worth speaking about, except that to the gasometer, the ends of which were knocked out, and the injuiy to the roof of the shed, was done. All the force of the explosion went upwards. Smith lived at Sandridge ; he was unmarried, but contributed largely to the support of his parents and of his brothers and sisters. He was also a corporal in the Sandridge Artillery. An inquest will be held on Smith’s body.