GAS EXPLOSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 77, 5 August 1913, Page 5

GAS EXPLOSION.

MAM BLOWN OUT OF DOOR. FIRE DESTROYS THE BUILDING. [Per Press Association.] Palmerston N., August 5. A sensational explosion occurred this morning in the storehouse of the railway gasworks. The gas engineer. Mr James Gatfield, had entered the shed and a loud detonation occurred. Ho was blown out of the doorway ant' rather badly burnt on one arm ami in the face, also being scorched. Th store containing six cylinders of gas.. burst into flames, and 15,000 cubic feet of gas was consumed, leaving the cylinders empty. Some people feared that the reservoirs would burst, but this was impossible, as they are provided with safety valves. The fire brigade worked steadily in the face of great odds, and succeeded in confining the outbreak to the building ir which it occurred. Mr Gatfield wa< removed to his home, and is progress ing as well as can be expected. Several minor explosions occurred after the first, but no damage resulted from them. The shed was gutted, but thf machinery is practically intact. The telegraph, telephone and .tablet wire were destroyed by the heat but have now been restored, and trains are run ning as usual.