SHOPLAND IN DARKNESS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8735, 8 February 1907, Page 1

SHOPLAND IN DARKNESS.

—.— London, January 14. | A dramatic “ stop ” was put to Christmas shopping in one of the most important shopping centres of the metropolis on Wednesday night owing to tho total failure, for a period of twenty minutes, of the electric | light supplied by tho Borough of I Marylebone. i At ten minutes to six tho numerous | world-famous shops on the north side of Oxford street were thronged with customers buying Christmas; presents. I At live minutes to six, without any preliminary warning, all the shops I supplied with electric light by the | Marylebone Borough Council, and I they are the great majority, were left in total darkness. The borough’s 3 electric lighting plant had suddenly failed, and to add to the general confusion the electric lights in the roadway also went out. In the great shops, suddenly plunged in total darkness, there was much alarm, but no panic. As soon as possible candles and lamps were lighted, the front doors wero closed, and tho customers were let out by tho sido doors. Tho manager of one large concern said : “ Oxford street has to-night lost thousands of pounds in sales, and I should not like to say j how much we have lost through the j actions of shoplifters.” I