SEVENTEEN PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2488, 11 April 1893, Page 4

SEVENTEEN PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH.

A fearful catastrophe occurred on the 13th Febnnuy in the German village of Nemet Pereg, near Arad, in Hungary. The carnival was being celebrated by a dance in the largest room <>f the village inn, and almost the whole of the inhabitants were present. While the dancing was at its height, a case of petroleum in the cellar beneath suddenly exploded with terrible force, partly destroying the flooring of the crowded room. The inflammable gases generated by the explosion ascended from below and enveloped the dancers in a mass of fire. All those not injured at once ruffled to the door and windows, and many escaped ; but 17 persons, stunned by the explosion or overcome by the stilling fumes, were burned to death. Twelve others were severely injured, and 10 more sustained burns of a less serious nature. The victims include the innkeeper and his daughter, an entire family of father, mother, and son, and their guest, a joung girl. The building was completely burned down. The explosion was caused by some children going into the cellar with a caudle and placing the light too hear the caae of petroleum.

The Wiener Tagblatt gives the following particulars of the disaster : —“ In the midst of the gaiety there was a terrific report caused by au explosion of petroleum, which was stored in the cellar, and the next instant flames burst through the flooring. The scene that ensued was of indescribable horror. The whole room was quickly ablaze and filled with suffocating fumes. A mad panic seized the unfortunate people, and many of those who escaped the flames were trampled to death in the terrible rush. In a short time the house was entirely destroyed. Seventeen persons lost their lives in the flames. Twenty others were so seriously injured that they are not expected to recover, and many sustained severe injuries through being crushed or trampled upon. When the dead were removed from the burning ruin their bodies presented a shocking spectacle, being burned almost beyond recognition. There is hardly a single family in the whole village which does not mourn the loss of one of its members.

FAILURE OF A BANK. Melhourne. April 6. Mr Marwick, representing Scotch depositors in the Commercial Bank, speaking at a meeting yesterday, said that if reconstruction were carried out promptly he believed that the bank would temporarily open its doors within the next 48 hours. April 9. Mr James Service has accepted the chairmanship of the reconstructed Commercial Bank. Yesterday the bank opened for the receipt of new accounts, and upwards of £IOO,OOO was deposited within two hours. . London, April 6. Tho Victorian Agent-General’s department has about £SOOO locked up in the Commercial Bank. Later telegrams from Melbourne have considerably modified tho unfavorable feeling at first expressed in the city. The idea of forming an Estates Company is strongly favoured. Several bankers and brokers express the opinion that the recent failures will have the effect of modifying the system under which large amounts of deposits are received by financial institutions having comparatively small paid-up capital. In the event of the proposal for a reconstruction failing, the prospect of forming a new and powerful bank to take the place of the Commercial has been already canvassed. The London Board of the Commercial Bank suggest that the depositors in the bank should hold meetings in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The managers of the Union Bank of Australia, Bank of New South Wales, Bank of Victoria, Bauk of New Zealand, and Band of Adelaide, favor a reconstruction of the bauk. The Exchange also approve of this. A broker who was instructed to sell Victorian 3£ per cent, stocks to the amount of £25,000 at any price he could get realised the whole at 88L April 8,

Mr Marwick, of Melbourne, who represents the Scottish depositors in the Commercial Bank, has wired to the Edinburgh agents of the Commercial Bank, advising them to urge the clients to concur in the construction scheme in its entirety, and that he considers preference shares a good investment. Coupons upon debentures of the Metropolitan Gas Company of Melbourne, of the fire brigades, and of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Melbourne, have not been paid by the Commercial Bank. The shareholders and depoaitors of the P -ercial Bank meet in London on Tuesday an A iQ Edinburgh on Wednesday to discuss the recondition scheme.