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Garage Explosion With Fatal EffectsCecil Gatchell Burned To Death -Hately’s Garage and Five Autos Destroyed By FireAn explosion of unknown origin. though they were able to grab his occurred Wednesday night shortly coat they were forced to release their before 10 o’clock in Hately’s Garage hold being driven from the building which resulted in the burning to by the raging flames, death of Cecil Gatchell, mechanic, So sudden was the explosion no and the complete destruction by fire one is able to give any satisfactory of the garage and its contents includ- explanation as to the cause of the ing four or five automobiles and one fatal catastrophe. Some advance truck. I the idea that a leak from an acety-The blast from the explosion could lene plant became ignited, but so far be distinctly felt in the buildings I there is no proof to verify this along King St. which brought people I theory or any other. Mr. Challis rushing to the street. Flames in the escaped with a slight bruise to one rear of the Royal Bank already could of his arms while Mr. Bagnell re-be seen leaping skyward and com- I ceived cut and bruises. Both men pletely enveloped the garage almost suffered from shock, instantaneously. A fire alarm was immediately sentIt was learned that W. J. Challis, Jin and when the brigade arrived they agent for Dodge and Plymouth cars, | directed streams to save the adjoin-W. J. Bagnell. merchant, and Cecil ing buildings as the garage was aGatchell, motor mechanic, were con- j complete wreck. As soon as they versing just outside the garage at the J subsided the flames in the garage time of the explosion which threw J efforts were made to find the body of them into the street. J Gatchell whose charred and unrecog-Mr. Challis had just locked the | nizable remains were located among garage door and they were about to I the debris after an hour’s search, leave for their homes. In some in- I The unfortunate victim leaves a wife explainable manner Gatchell was and two small children, blown back into the garage by the | John Hately, owner of the garage, explosion. in company with Dr. John Spencer,Ross McKnight and Dave Tordiff is out of town on a fishing trip in wrho wrere nearby attempted to extri- north Hastings and cannot be locat-cate Gatchell from the building who ed.was apparently caught in the floor J Dr. V. H. Storey, coroner, has or-which had fallen to the cellar. Al- dered an inquest.
Newspaper Details
Bowmanville Canadian Statesman
Bowmanville, Ontario, CA
Thu, Aug 21, 1930
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Full Page
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Rick M.
USA 08 Mar 2022
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Bowmanville Canadian Statesman
