A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2624, 5 October 1909, Page 5

A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

CABLE INEWS.

CHEMIST’S ST(j)RE BLOWN UP Unitbij Phicsb Association —Copyiught. SYDNEY, October 4. A chemist’s shop in William street was blown up this morning. There was a terrific Teport. The debris took fire and the adjoining premises were destroyed. There were a number of narrow escapes. Several injured persons were treated at the hospital. The cause of the explosion is unknown at present. EXTENSIVE DAAIAGE AND MAlt- ' VELLOUS ESCAPES. (Received October 4, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 4. The concussion of tlie explosion was tremendous, and was felt in the centre of the city. The ctxensive premises occupied by the East Sydney Pharmacy Company, "where it occurred, were completely wrecked. The fronts of several adjoining shops were blown in, and practically all the windows within 100 yards’ radius wer« shattered, and ceilings and fittings • wrenched and destroyed.

An outbreak of fire followed the explosion, and spread from the chemist’s to the four adjoining premises. Though the brigade quickly got it under, the flames and water added considerably to the losses.

Besides the Pharmacy Company, the most serious damage was done at Anderson’s (grocer), Griffiths’ (grocer), Ruso’s (fruiterer), Frosbey’s (furniture warehouse), Wertheim’s Sewing Machine Company, Euroki Hall, and two hotels. Flying debris and glass destroyed large quantities of stock. This was specially the case in the hotels, where valuable bottled stocks were broken.

The houses onßhe opposite side of William Street and Riley Street present the appearance of having undergone a fusilade. Two chemists, Messrs Binder and Sharp, were on the premises at the time of the explosion, and had a marvellous escape. Air. Sharp was pinned under a mass of debris, and surrounded by flames. Mr. Binder was knocked over, and was lying among the ruins. Both were rescued, but were severely burned and lacerated by flying glass. Mr. Sharp remains in. the hospital, where four others were treated for lacerations received in the street from flying glass. Luckily those shops were closed, and the bulk of the people were away watching the Eight Hours procession, otherwise the casualty list would have been much heavier.

Two heavily-laden trams had just got clear as the explosion occurred. Mr. Sharp states that he was boiling a couple of gallons of camphorated oil on the counter, and that the liquid ran over and flared up. In the endeavor to extinguish the flames the vessel was upset and the explosion resulted.