A WELLINGTON MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 1 May 1915, Page 4

A WELLINGTON MYSTERY.

FIVE MEN ASPHYXIATED BY GAS.

OTHERS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED.

MYSTERIOUS ESOAPE OF GAS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■Welliagten, Last Night. Two men, residing iu opposite houses in Mulgravo Street, were found dead in their beds this morning. The circumstances are similar, and apparently point to asphyxiation by gas as th& cause. At the same time there are reports of two fires breaking out in gas meters, while residents in several parts of the city complain of escapes of gas and sickness resulting therefrom. The two men dead are Waiter Holmes and dames Robert Smith. The former was single, aged 31), and worked on a wharf; he resided at No. II), Mulgravo Street. Last night he went back to work, and returned to the house after the 'other occupants had retired, going to his room at the top of the stairs. It had no gas jet, nor was there any in any of the upstairs rooms. Sleeping on the same Uoor were another man and children. On getting up at about 5.30 o'clock this morning, Mrs. Johnson, the landlady, noticed a strong smell of gas, and'tried all the taps, and found that the hall light had been turned on to a slight extent. Thinking this the cause of the smell, she turned off the jet, and went about her work, but the smell did not diminish. Wondering why Holmes had not come downstairs, she went to call him. As she passed the gas meter behind tiie hall door sho heard the hiss of gas rushing from the meter through the register. There appeared to he no water in the meter. On proceeding upstairs, Mrs. Johnson found Holmes lying dead in bed, the door being slightly ajar, and the window half-open, creating a draught. The doors of the other rooms had been shut at night, but the (nan, who occupied one room, hod been very sick, anil had to receive medical attention.

James Robert Smith resided at No. 14, a boardinghouso, kept by Mrs. Kvelyn Bennett, situated exactly opposite to Xo. 1!). Tie was an engine-driver, employed by the Government Railway department at Tliorndon yards. He iuul formerly resided at Gia'bornc. He was single, 1!) years of age. His parents live at Weatport. He had been living at Mnlgrave Street for three weeks. His room was on the second floor, and it contained no gas jet but the gas meter. Deceased was last seen about 10 p.m., when lie was in his usual health. >At 730 to-day, .Mrs. Bennett went to call him, and found him lying (lead in bed. His eyes were wide open, there being signs of frothing at the mouth and vomiting. The window of the room was half-open. There was a strong smell of gas. The two gas meter fires mentioned occurred within a few minutes of each each last night. At 10.3!) the lire brigade was called to No. ]2. _ >, Molesworth Street, occupied by Mrs. Maud England, who, in looking for an escape of gas, had struck a match. As the front door stood open for ventilation purposes, the explosion was minimised, the meter only being damaged. The second call came at 10.48 from £G, Mac Donald Crescent, a three-storied apartment building. The gas meter bad caught fire, but the outbreak was suppressed without difficulty. The other cases of gas escaping, apparently through no water being in the meter, was reported from Taranaki street and various parts of Tliorndon, Cuba Street, Lambton Quay and other 'places, The constable on dutv last night turned off several meters, as he noticed the hiss of escaping gas. In two cases -he residents suffered from the effects of gas, though their meters were outside the house. In some instances the effect was so serious that the doctor had to be called in.

The Gas Company officers were able to give no explanation of the occurrence, which is regarded as mysterious, and in' vostigations as to cause are being conducted.

THREE MORE DEAD. Wellington, Last Night, tins afternoon three Chinamen were found dead in the same house in the Tmakori Road, having been suffocated by gas. This makes five deaths to-dav from the same cause, while a number of other cases of people being affected by gas fumes were reported in widely scattered sections of the city. Wellington, Later, hree Chinese wore found dead this afternoon. They were fruiterers occupying a shop at 328, Tinakori Road As the shop was not opened neighbors became uneasy, and notified the police. Later they forced an entrance and found three young Chinese dead in bed loung King was in one room and in a room on the opposite side of the passage the other two, Young Wong and \oung Clung, were lying in separate nods. Ihe bodies were removed to the morgue. A strong smell of gas was noticed by the police when tlicv entered tw .premises. An inquest oi'i all the victims will probably be held on Monday.