EXPLOSION AT PALMERSTON.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 591, 6 August 1913, Page 5

EXPLOSION AT PALMERSTON.

RAILWAY GAS STOREHOUSE ABLAZE. [HY TKLIXJRAI'II.— I'RINS ASSOCIATION.] Palmerdton N., Tuesay. A sensational explosion occurrßd this morninc in a storehouse at the railway gasworks. The ga3 engineer, James Gatfield, has entered the shed, and a loud detonation occurred. He w,as blown oui of the doorway,, and rather badly burnt on one arm, haß face also being scorched. The store, which contained six cylinders of gas, burst into flames, and 1500 cubic feet ot gas were consumed, leaving the cylinders empty. Some people feared that the reservoirs would burst, but this was impossible, as they are provided with safety valves. Tr.e lire brigade worked steadily in face of /rieat odds, and succeeded in confining the outbreak to the building in which it occurred. Mr Gatfield was removed to his home, where he is progressing as well as can be expected. Several minor explosions occurred after the first, but no damage resulted from them. The shed was gutted, but the machinery is practically intact. Telegraph, telephone and tablet wires were destroyed by the heat, but have now been restored, and trains are running as usual.