33
Behind stack 52 was a mass of partially burnt and melted rubber, оссиру- ing the position shewn on the plan as stack 49. A number of drums and lids were embedded in the edges of this mass.
in the plan.
soot.
Behind this mass was a stack of iron bars, about 6 feet high; marked 42
The whole of this area, and the arcade outside, were much blackened by
On the pavement outside was a mass of debris, including an electric cable of heavy-gauge, twin, rubber-covered wire. This will be further dealt with below, Sample under "Theories of Origin". In addition, a number of drums and bales of rubber were scattered in the road where they had been ejected by the explosion.
The wall on the other side of the road opposite the hole was extensively scorched and blackened.
4941
In the roadway, particularly in the gutters, was strewn a quantity (several pounds weight altogether) of clear 35-m.m. cinematograph film, much torn and in some Sample cases partly burnt.
I examined this film and found it to be cellulose nitrate film and highly inflammable. The film was free of photographic emulsion.
I
I examined the drums in the roadway and also, at a later date, those remaining in Stack 52 (on plan No. 1). All the drums consisted of a standard American type of steel drum, used for the transport of solid materials. This has a removable lid at one end, held in position by an outside band of steel, and tightened by a screw or lever device. The capacity of these drums is about 50 gallons.
I selected certain material out of the debris and handed it to Insp. Shaw for safe custody. He later (on 25th September, 1948) handed it to me in the Labora- tory. This material consisted of the following:
Sample reference No.
Sample
1 piece fertilizer from stack 50.
4661
4662
1 drum lid, from road.
4663
4664
Quantity of film, from road.
Two film labels; (these have since been found to have belonged
to press photographers, and hence are unconnected with the fire).
Drum with hole burnt in the side.
4663
4665
4666
Drum containing sample 4664.
4667
Another drum, with lid.
4668
4669
4669 (a)
One half-burnt bale of rubber.
Piece of tram wire from roadway.
Granite from pillars of arcade.
All other samples taken during the investigation have been obtained by me and have remained in my charge throughout.
(c) Right hand end of Godown (Whitty Street end).
The commodities found in this part of the godown are shewn on the attached plan. The greater part of this stock was only slightly damaged, shewing that it had not been exposed to extreme heat; many of the commodities, also, were such as would be unaffected by fire.
Samples of material were taken as follows:-
From Stack 2
Sample No. 4933
12
"
"
4934
"
"
"
17
J
"
4935
16
"
""
"
4936
13
"
"
"
4937