MILL SHATTERED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 108, 29 December 1931, Page 7

MILL SHATTERED

TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION IN BOILER CAUSES HAVOC MANCHESTER, December 5. Death and destruction swept through a busy Yorlcshire mill in the twfhkling of an eye when a shattering explosion suddenly rent the building. Froni the wrecked structure — part of the premises of Messrs. T. Burnley and Sons, worsted spinners, of Gomersal, near Leeds— a woman | worker — Mrs. Mary, Jubb, 31, of i RaiKes Lane, Birstall, was extrieated i in a dying eondition. She succumbed shortly after admission to. Batley Hospital. Thirty-eight other operatives received injuries which necessitated treatment at the hospital, and the following were detained: — Mrs. Evelyn Parker, of Shirley Parade, i( Gomersal; Mrs. Frances Thorne, of I Vietoria Road, Dewsbury; Annie i Holmes Wilson, of Grove Lane, Birdacre, Gomersal; Mrs. Mabel Holmes, of Shirley Square, Gomersal; Mrs. Alice Pickles, of White Horse Hotel, Gomersal; Mrs. Ada Gawthra, Firth Buildings, Hightown, Liversidge; and Clifford Randall, of Craven Terrace, Gomersal. The explosion, which an eye-witness likened to the effeet of "a dozen bombs exploding simultaneously," was located, in a big brick building known as the French drawing shed. The economiser — an apparatus at the back of the boiler through which steam passes and becomes super-heated — blew up through some mysterious cause. A mass of machinery and debris immediately shot into the air, carrying with it the glass roof of the place and throwing down in ruris a 50-foot wall. Some of the machinery, which weighed several tons, was tossed about as if it had been match-boxes. Glass, masonry, and other debris flew in all directions, among some 80 workpeople, mostly women, who were engaged in the drawing room. Before it was realised what had happened, screaming women were lying pinned under the wreckage. Meanwhile the place filled with scalding steam 'which escaped from the wrecked enginehouse. Some girls and women were able to grope their way out unaided. Many of them were hysterical, and others were suffering from shock or streaming with blood from injuries caused by broken glass. Scenes of extraordinary confusion confronted rescuers as they entered the ruined shed. Cries of "For God's sake, help me!" and "Oh, my leg!" and such like, were heard from beneath the wreckage. Among those who had lucky escapes was a young married woman who was pinned by a falling wall. Iron pipes which lay across her chest, prevented her from being crushed. "It was awful," declared one girl. VThere was a sudden roar. Then the walls fellTn, and the rush of steam scalded some of us. We rushed out in fear." The noise of the explosion was heard over. a wide area, and a mile away, in the centre of Cleckheaton, the windows and doors of houses were shaken and broken. The mill employs about 1,100 operatives, and at the time of the disaster was busier than it had been for six years. Only recently 300 extra hands had been engaged. About 600 are now temporarily unemployed.