DISASTER AT SHETLANDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 22 May 1915, Page 2

DISASTER AT SHETLANDS.

CAPITAL TOWN WRECKED. Fee Press .Association. Wellington, May 21. Some weeks ago there appeared a cablegram from London stating that a great disaster had overtaken Lerwick, tin. 1 capital of the Shetland Islands. Lerwick is a small town of a little over IUUH inhabitants, or, with its suburbs, about UUUU. The cabelgram stated that U;c town had been wrecked, several people killed, and a great lire had occurred.

A lull report has reached Wellington now by mail, Sir Robert Stout having received a full account of the happenings. It appears that the Admiralty had a large store of explosives situated near the fish market that 's in the north end of the town. there was adjoining this Admiralty store a private store, containing nets and other fishing apparatus. The lire started in the net store, and extended to the Admiralty building, with the result that the latter building, full of explosives, took hre and blew the building in the air. The following were killed:—James Mowat, a lad of fifteeii eyars of age; ! James Watt, laborer; James Wiseman, j seaman, R.X.R.; Arthur Hazel, seaman, R.N.R.; and Robert Clark. I The injured were ; —Lieut. Hopper, R.X.R.; Petty-officer Joseph Hughes, | Walter Brown, George Robertson, George Mowat, James Inkster, .1. 11.I 1 . Ellison, Charles Turner, George Ross, W. T. Aneis, John Ivirkby, Clarence Hall, and Mrs Ganson. , Of those killed, only three were Shetlanders, the other two being connected with the Navy. Several of the injured were also men belonging to the Navy, who had been in Irewick on naval husinss.

The explosion was a very heavy one, as can be ascertained from the fact thot a piece of iron fell on to the roof of a house 500 yards away. The town, except a few buildings, between Harbour Street and the fish market, was not affected. There are a few buildings in the north of the port, where the Admiralty store was situated. It is stated that the disaster is the worst that has ever been known in the town, and great credit is due to the authorities for the manner in which they dealt with, the situation before and after the

explosion, and for their prompt action, which no doubt prevented further casualties.

The provost of the town is Mr Robert Stout, first cousin of Sir Robert Stout.