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of the sacks had burnt through and their contents collapsed into the space to the right of the drums.
Mixed with this collapsed material were circles of metal which I recognised as the bottoms and lids of fibre kegs, of the type normally used to contain rubber accelerators. On removing the drums of stack 52, Sample later on, I found adhering to the bottom a quantity of melted and soli- 4835 dified material which was had the appearance of that commodity.
Behind stack 52 was a mass of partially burnt and melted rubber, occupying the position shewn on the plan as stuck 49. A number of drums and lids were embedded in the edges of this mass.
Behind this mass was a stack of iron bars, about 6 feet high; marked 42 in the plan.
The whole of this area, and the arcade outside, were much black- ened by soot.
On the pavement outside was a mass of debris, including an Sample electric cable of heavy-gauge, twin, rubber-covered wire. This will be 4941 further dealt with below, under "Theories of Origin". In addition, દી
number of drums and bales of rubber were scattered in the road where they had been ojected by the explosion.
The wall on the other side of the road opposite the hole was extensively scorched and blackened.
In the roadway, particularly in the gutters, vas strewn a Sample quantity (several pounds weight altogether) of clear 35-m.m. cinemato- 4663 graph film, much torn and in some cases partly burnt.
I examined this film and found it to be cellulose nitrato film and highly inflammable. The film was free of photographic emulsion.
I examined the druns 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 25 Sep. 48) handed it to me in the Laboratory. This material consisted of the following:
Sample reference No.
4661
4662
4663
4664
4665
4666
4667
4668
4669
4669 (2)
Samplo
1 piece fertilizer from stack 50
1 drum lid, from road
Quantity of film, from road
Two film labels; (those have since been found to have belonged to press photographers, and hence are unconnected with the fire).
Drum with hole burnt in the side Drum containing sample 4664
Another drum, with lid
One half-bumit bale of rubber Piece of tram wire from roadway Granite fron pillars of arcade
All other samples takon during the investigation have been ob- tained by me and have remained in my charge throughout.
(c)
Right hand end of Godown (Whitty Strect end).
The commodities found in this part of the godown are shown on the attached plan. The greater part of this stock was only slightly