SERIOUS CARTRIDGE EXPLOSION IN DUBLIN
FIVE MEN INJURED
GUNSMITH’S SHOP DAMAGED
GREGG MEMORIAL HALL WRECKED
A serious gunpowder explosion took place yesterday afternoon on the
premises of Messr’s Trulock, Harriss and Richardson, gun manufactory, 9 Dawson
Street, Dublin, resulting in considerable damage to the premises, the wrecking
of the adjoining Gregg Memorial Hall, and injuries to five of the employees,
two of whom are at present in hospital in a critical state. The explosion
occurred in a building at the rear of the premises, the floor of which was used
as a shooting range. Overhead were galleries utilised as workshops. Five men-
George Fitzgerald, cartridge loader; Finlay Myles, cartridge loader, Geo’
Oldham, gunsmith; Andrew Harvey, gunsmith and Percy Mc Namara, porter, were
working in that portion of the premises about three o’clock, when they were
startled by the report of an explosion, which was quickly followed by two other
explosions.
The loud noise had hardly subsided when there was a great crash caused
by the falling in of the roof, and it seemed as if the men could not escape
being crushed beneath the weight of the falling masonry, wood and glass. The
whole neighbourhood was startled by the shock and assistance was speedily
forthcoming to rescue the men. It was seen at a glance that they were in a bad
way, more especially Fitzgerald and Myles, who appeared to be suffering great
pain. All the men were burned, but Fitzgerald and Myles were more severely
injured than the others. The clothing of the former caught fire, and the flames
caused much injury to his body. Both men were brought to Mercer’s Hospital in
the Corporation Ambulance, and on arrival it was found that they were burned
about the head, face, arms and legs. Oldham
was also treated for injuries to the head and was detained, while Mc Namara and
Harvey were subsequently admitted, and their wounds having been dressed they
were able to go home.
So great was the force of the explosion that although the spot is some
45 yards from the street, the plate glass window of the front portion of the
premises was smashed to atoms, the street directly opposite the establishment
being strewed with broken glass. Though the office furniture and fittings were
thrown about in a confused heap it was curious to observe that the glass case
which ran along one side of the shooting range remained unbroken. This fact
would seem to indicate that the explosion originated on the gallery near the
roof.
This theory appeared to have been substantiated by the ignition of some
of the woodwork of the gallery. Fortunately Captain Purcell on hearing of the
occurrence drove to the scene with a number of firemen, and brought with him a
line of hose. The firemen were hampered in their work of the rescue by a number
of cartridges exploding. As soon as the hail of bullets stopped , the firemen
closed with the burning portion of the premises and in a few minutes the fire
was extinguished.
It appeared as if the Gregg Memorial Hall, which adjoined the building
was in danger of catching fire, but Captain Purcell, by directing particular
attention to the dividing line between the houses, quickly dispelled such
fears.
Though the Memorial Hall fortunately escaped the danger of the fire it
did not escape injury, as when the roof of the rifle range was blown off a
considerable quantity of brick and mortar work fell through the roof with
terrific force, and carried with it the woodwork, glazing and gas fittings. The
floor of the hall was completely demolished, the seats being smashed and the boards
torn-up. At the entrance end of the hall the flooring was completely torn away,
and a large hole made into the stores of Messr’s Maguire and Gatchell, which
ran beneath the hall. Some idea of he force of the fall may be had from the
fact that the piano, which occupied a place on the platform, at the top of the
hall was crushed like matchwood and destroyed.
It was most fortunate that no person was in the hall at the time of the
occurrence. It may be mentioned that the caretaker, Mr Finegan, had a lucky escape,
as he had barely left the hall in which he had occupied when portion of the
roof came crashing down. A meeting of the Church Missionary Society was to have
been held there last evening , but the havoc wrought on the hall, of course,
made it impossible for the meeting to take place. The Society, however, was not
to be baulked in its work, as its meeting was successfully carried through in
the Molesworth Hall. On Wednesday the annual Sale of Work in connection with
the Ladies Irish Association was held in the hall but fortunately the stalls
and decorations had been removed before the explosion occurred.
The concussion caused by the explosion was felt in many of the
establishments adjacent. The offices of the Dublin Industrial Development Association,
which are over the front portion of the establishment showed signs of damage. A
large window facing the workshop was shattered, and in the office of the
Association the furniture was scattered in confusion. The Secretary, Mr W.J.
Branagan and a member of the Association were in the office at the time of the
occurrence, and so great was the effect of the explosion that they were both
hurled off their chairs across the floor. Both doors of the apartment were
forced open, while the window frames were smashed, and the floor of the office
was littered with glass.
The premises of Messr’s Maguire and Gatchell, 10 Dawson Street, also suffered, and gave
unmistakeable evidence of the force of the explosion. The inmates of the
adjoining premises were of course greatly startled, and the thoroughfare was
soon crowded with an excited crowd.
A cordon of police arrived shortly after the explosion and their effort
were directed to preserving order while the injured men were being conveyed to
hospital. Traffic was suspended for some time, but owing to the excellent
arrangements of the police it was not long before it was resumed. It should be
mentioned that much valuable assistance was rendered by Mr Kenneth Dockerell,
son of Sir Maurice Dockerell, who was fortunately driving by in his motor-car
at the time. Seeing the confusion that prevailed he promptly utilised his motor
to convey Oldham, one of the injured men, to
Mercer’s Hospital.
There were many theories as to the cause of the explosion, but no
definite statement can yet be made in this respect. It is, however apparent
that the explosion occurred on the second gallery of the building.
The injured men were received at Mercer’s Hospital by Surgeon Wheeler,
Dr Pringle, house surgeon, and Messr’s Knapp and Bagley, resident pupils.
The men in hospital are.. George Fitzgerald, 65 years of age, of 72
Aungier Street; Finley Myles, age 23 years, 9 North Brunswick Street and George
Oldham, aged 62 years, 38 Emerald Square, Dolphin’s Barn.
On inquiring at the hospital this morning it was stated that Fitzgerald
and Myles were still in a serious condition, but the condition of Oldham is not so grave. Special mention must be made of
the Fire Brigade the members of which once more demonstrated their proficiency
and high training in securing the injured
The police arrangements which
were under the direction of Inspector Cushen were excellent.
…………………………..
A report which appeared in the Irish
Times of the 23rd March 1906.
Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk
