SHOPLAND IN DARKNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 5 February 1907, Page 4

SHOPLAND IN DARKNESS.

KKMAIiKAiJLK SC'KNKS U\V!N(i 'i'O ELI'X'TRIC I.KUIT J'AllA'ltK. LONDON, -January N. A dramatic •'"stop" was put tut'hrisimas shopping in one of the must important shopping centre, - i the metropolis on Wednesday ifiuJti owing to the total failure, lor a period of iweriiv minute.-. of the electric lighi supplied by the Horough of .Marylebone.' At ten minutes to *i.\ <he numerous world famous shops on tin- nori.i .-dde of Oxford street were t.il'Oilgrd with customers buying Christmas pi.^mts. At live miniK-'v (n six. without anv preliminary warning, all I he shops .sup plied with electric light liy the Marvli'lmiiic Jhirough Council. and thev nve t iir- great majority, weiv left in totil darkness. The borough's .•'••ctrie lighting plant had suddenly failed. ami to add to (he general confusion tlie electric lights in tee roadwav a'-o went out. fn liie great shop-, sU'ld-'-niy p!nng ed in total darkness thejv wjU much alarm, hid no panic. As so.hi as jk)silde candle, and lump- were lighted. 1 lie front doors weiv closed, and Hi-' cu-d nmers were let out by the side doors. Tlie manager of on«' larue c«»W'-ern slid; "Oxford street lia i to night lost thousands of pounds in sales, and I should nor like to say how much we have lost through the actions of shoplifters."'