A RUSH OF SIGHT-SEERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1917, Page 5

A RUSH OF SIGHT-SEERS.

s RAILWAYS STOP BOOKINGS. SEARCHING THE RUINS. SENSATIONAL ESCAPES SCENES AT THE HOSPITALS. Received Jan. '22, 7.15 p.m. London, Jan. 21. On Sunday sight-seers flocked in such numbers to the scene of the explosion that the railways discontinued booking'* at pertain stations. 'The authorities diverted the traffic ill various ways in order to leave the search -parties! unhampered. Despite these precautions there was an enormous congestion in the neighborhood of the explosion. Search parties continue their gruesome task among the ruins, and several more nodies were found, hut days will probably elapse before the- full human toll can he measured. Intercessory services were held at all the churches, and many are devoting their collections for the relief of the distress. There are many pathetic stories of sensational escapes, and some remarkable incidents are recorded. A cinema was showing the Ancre battle picture when the explosion occurred amidst a volley of stage thunder, and tho audience loudly applauded, unaware of the actual facts, though several windows were blown in. Such a, day as Sunday was never known before in the London hospitals. Many victims, both olive and dead, are not ' yeti identified. People journeyed from hospital to hospital, jC&nning the lists. Hospitals were transformed -with wonderful speed in order to receive patients. All the available space, including the corridors, was utilised. Vehicles of every description arrived with victims disfigured, maimed, find limbless. Many critical operations that demanded instant performance were treated in such numbers that the usual fornix were thrown to the winds, and relatives invaded tho wards and searched unbidden. SOME SAD CASES DEAD ESTIMATED AT 300. deceived Jan. 22, 11.10 p.m. London, Jan. 22. A woman was notified in the morning that tier husband had been killed in France, and in the evening that six of her children were killed in the explosion. A man, on reaching home, found that his wife and two children were killed, and three children) missing. The Daily Mail estimates tho death will at 30ft

THE CAUSE UNASCERTAINABLE?. THE SITE MARKED BY HDQB CRATER Received Jan. 23, 12.30 a.m. i ijj London, Jaa. B. 1 J lie day shift at the munition ffiti ti ry ceased work at 5.30 p.m., only tM Moratory and office staff and thirty-* "ve employees engaged in special high explosive work remaining. ' bough the actual cause is known, it seems certain that the Jit# s.arted on the upper floor. Dr. Angel, Die watchman, and two or three others v.i.'O might have thrown light on the ouestion, as ihey were seen preparing Mil: emergency fire hoses, perished whoil tt'i l explosion occurred. I'ive minutes after the alarm iraa given the firemen arrived, and swtji. minutes from the start there -was ft great explosion. A huge crater fifty, yards wide and Many feet deep marks the site of the factory. > .