Dynamite Explosion.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6077, 14 July 1897, Page 4

Dynamite Explosion.

A RAILWAY CARRIAGE BLOWN UP. Just as a " Circle " train travelling from Farringdon-atreet to Aldersgatestreet, London f had come to a standstill at the latter station at 7.1 p.m. on April 26, a disastrous explosion occurred in a first-olass carriage in the middle of the traiihsome thirty persons being more or lessTnjured. The platform was orowded with people leaving the City for the East- \ end, and the explosion appeared to oocur juat before the train Btopped. There was a tremendous report, and the platform Immediately became the scene of' the Wildest confusion. The oarriage in which the explosion occurred was nearly demolished, the solid framework being smashed into hundreds of pieces, which were sent flyiog In all directions. Three v persons were in the oarriage at the time, - and they sustained serious injuries. The flying debris caused the remainder of the casualties. Within a minute or two a medical man was on the scene of the ' Moidenta and he at once advised the xemotal of ten of the injured to St. Bartholomew's hospital, pn the removal of the train the platform pre seated a remarkable scene of wreckage. ■ ' The permanent way was uninjured, but v it was covered with broken glass, and Sleoes of woodwork, cushions, &o. The ying pieces broko several of tho enamelled tablet's on the walls, and materially damaged an automatio Weighing machine. The wreoked carriage *wasin the centre of the train, and ■ consisted of six first-class compartments. Only two compartments at each end of ifae carriage were left after the ex- j plosion. Several passengers were hurt, and thosa who saw no other means of 4 escape leaped on to the rails and dashed ' SMOBg- the; lines to the furthest part of the platform. The gas on the Metropolitan Bide of the station had been put out by the explosion, and, standingl in the semi-darkness, the wrecked Carriage, still attached in its original position to the train, looked a remarkable object. The roof and sides of the carriages had completely disappeared; but the body of the ■" OMriage wasseoure, though badly dam- ■ afeetL The doors at either end were | flartly torn off, one hanging at the side ■.. ■of the coach by the top hinge. "ho aperture made in tho oenture of tho car- ' itage wasV shaped, the upper part being 'i' f the widest. The flooring in the centure )" ' presented a huge hole, blackened and ' fagged at the edges. It was nearly ' round, and was about three yards in cir- ' I dumference. Tho oase of ono of tho Ceiling lamps of one of tho wrecked cora- " Baitments was all that was loft by tho 1 >'* etplosiqn, the force whioh had hurled % '' - '. It upwards, but, still adhering to the gas-

pipe which runs along tho roof of the coaches, it had fallen over tho off side of the next compartment, whore it remained suspended at a level with the window strap. The glass in tho train was wrecked, while the adjoining metals were strewn with woodwork and debris. On tho arrival of the injured persons at the hospital it was seen that there was at least one serious oase—that of a man named Pitts, aged 87, of 31, 'Wick-ham-road, Coleraine-patk, Tottenham, who died shortly after in the institution. Sir F. Abel, on behalf of the Metropolitan Railway company, examined the wreoked coach on Tuesday afternoon, and endorsed the theory of the company that an explosion was caused by a detonator of some kind, and was not attributable to gas.