CHEMICAL WORKS EXPLOSION

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1930, Page 5

CHEMICAL WORKS EXPLOSION

Eleven killed.

(.United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.]

(Received this dnv nt 9.40’ n.m.) LONDON, July 4.

Heralded by a ball of yellow fumes, due to a fire in the middle of the works which hung over the nitration plant, a huge sheet of flame was followed by a terrific explosion and several minor ones, in which eleven were killed and twenty injured. All were employees of the chemical works of Hicksons Ltd., a.fc Castleford, near Leeds. The explosion blew John Morris/ who was walking along the bank, into the river and drowned him. It razed the nitration building to the

gound. The killed included Frank Hodgesoii, 1 whose brother was killed in an explosion at the same works in 1926.

The scene coc'ers eight acres, containing eight chemical plants, which present the appearance of a devastated area during war time in France. Many people were injured by flying glass from windows. Debris was scattered over the town for a radius of two miles.

'Hie explosion is believed to have originated in the nitric acid mixer, the contents of which caught fire bursting the boiler. The reserberaion was felt in a town three mile 3 away. There were many harrowing sights as the injured were rescued. .