TERRIBLE EXPLOSION NEAR WOOLWICH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 269, 12 June 1880, Page 2

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION NEAR WOOLWICH.

On April 12th a terrible explosion, by which great loss Of life was caused, took place at Silvertown, near North Woolwich. A report resembling a loud peal of thunder was ; h ard in flic J< eab'ty and soon afterwards it was ascertained tli at one of the large stills uied for the manufacture of creosoto for " pickling," timber, railway sleepers, &c., at theworki of Messrs Burt, Po. Hon, aud Haywood,

%, - exuded. n h6 still eontoVd aboct 2o<|jgallons of inflammable fluid, which. and quickly se t the vast :pr«mj|pß on fire. The steam fire-engines fr6^r. , West Han were quickly on the spot and others from all parts of the district of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade were summoned,- but all their efforts seemed us less'. OwingHo the nature of the materials,, fierce and difficult to cope with, and dense black volumes of smoke obscured ' dbscu red *" l th e > * *atmcSphe*S S e veral building sheds in succession caught fire, and six huge tanks, containing 20,000 gallons of oil, were attached by the flames and burned out: The Premises extend over nearly twinty acres, and .at almost every point the fire continued its ravages. There were altogether between 300 and 400 men and boys employed on the premises, and many unlortunate creatures who had escaped with their lives from the effects of the explosion required aid to escape fron the flames, some of them being dreadfully burned '*n Various pirts oftho body. Many of hem were taken to the Poplar Hospital. Two or three men Jare upposed to be working on the top of the still at the time of the explosion, but whether they were blown into the river, or what became of them is not known. The force of the explosion was tremendous, and the massive circular top of tha still, which weighed nearly three tons, was forced to a great height, resembling a baloon ascending,- and fell at a distance of over 140 yards Some of the bodies recovered were in such n condition as to almost defy identification. In some cases little more .than the charred bones remained. There wasone instance of a very painful nature. The bodies of a man and a boy were found tightly holding each other. They had evidently made an effort to escape, and had only succeeded in reaching an outhouse. Every atom of clothing was burnt, and their bodies were as black as a negro's. The greatest confusion prevailed after the explosion, and there were many anxious inquiries as to missing husbands tons brothers. Eleven bodies were soon found, but it is asserted that there arc more in the ruins.