DISASTER AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 295, 22 May 1915, Page 7

DISASTER AT HOME.

THE WORST EVER KNOWN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Some weeks ago there appeared a cablegram from London stating that a groat disaster had overtaken Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands. Lerwick is a small town of a little over 4000 inhabitants, or, with its suburbs, about 6000. The cablegram stated that the town had been wrecked, several people killed, and a great fire had occurred.

A full 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 is in the north end of the town. There was adjoining this Admiralty store a private store, containing nets and other fishing apparatus. The fire started in the net store, and extended to the Admiraltv building, with the result that the lattei building, full of explosives, took fire and blew the building into the air. Some people who were near were killed. Tie following were killed:—James Mowat, a lad fifteen years of age; James Watt, laborer; James Wiseman, seamanj R.N.R.; Arthur Hazel, seaman, R.N.R.; and Robert Clark. The injured were:— Lieut. Hopper, R.N.R.; Petty-officer Joseph Hughes, Walter Brown, George Robertson, George Mowat, James Inkster, T. F. Ellison, Charles Turner, George Ross, W. T. Aneis, John Kirky, Clarence Hal], and Mrs. Ganson. Of those killed, only three were Shctlanders, the other two being connected with the Nav}'. Several of the injured were also men belonging to the Navy, who had been in Lerwick on naval business. The explosion was a very heavy one, as can be ascertained from the fact that, 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 ail'ected. 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.