High noon as gas explosion alarmed the neighbourhood

From this newspaper 150 years ago. –

On Wednesday, at noon, the gentlemen in Messrs Backhouse and Co’s Bank, as well as the inhabitants of the immediate neighbourhood, were greatly alarmed by an explosion of gas which proceeded from a cellar beneath the Messrs Backouse’s private office. The report of the explosion was very loud – so loud as to warrant the intrusion into the bank of a number of persons at the time sauntering on the High-row. As soon, however, as the nature of the occurrence was understood, and the extend of the damage caused by it ascertained, the intruders were politely desired to leave, and means were taken for restoring order and equanimity. It appears that the gaslight in the bank has for a length of time been insufficient in supply, and that the explosion was due to certain operations that were being made at the time for securing a larger supply.

Richard Mowbray and William Skelton, employees of the Board of Health, had the charge of these operations. A cap or plug used for preventing the gas passing into the building, had been screwed out of the end of the wrought iron service pipe, which was pushed through the wall into the cellar, and the other end screwed to the bend fixed in the gas main. The screw of the cap being tested with a candle as soon as gas was introduced, the service pipe appears to have become fixed in the wall, whereby in screwing the other end of the service pipe up tight to the bend in the gas main it became unscrewed. Mowbray had just left for dinner, and Skelton had got two doors off, when he remembered having left the candle burning in the cellar, and turned back to put it out; and immediately he got to the bottom of the cellar steps, the accident occurred.

It was the pressure of the gas upon the candle caused by his entrance that caused the explosion.

He was slightly burned in the face, and his hair and whiskers were somewhat singed; fortunately, however, he was not seriously injured.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. –

Northallerton. The earth has been covered with snow to a considerable depth since Sunday, and there has been fall after fall, the roads and footpaths being no sooner cleared than the services of the plough were needed again.

This provided more work for the urban men than they could deal with all at once, and the roads have presented an aspect that has not been seen for years – a road made between two heaps of snow at each side standing about two feet high. A very bad frost prevailed on Wednesday – Northallerton market day and New Year's Eve – and it appeared to infuse a general spirit of hilarity and goodwill among the farmers.

The same seasonable weather conduced to the disposition towards first footing, and there were many early birds astir.

TOP TUNES: Advertisement from this newspaper 100 years ago

Watch night services were held at the various places of worship, and there were many people astir when these were ended, and many and hearty were the seasonal good wishes expressed. The bells of All Saints’ Church rang out merry peals “across the snow” – rang out the old and rang in the new. The air was still, the sky clear, and the stars shone out in the dark blue sky. There were many rooms aglow with light and fire, mirth and goodwill, and the usual coldness and formality of the human heart thawed and expressed itself in good wishes for the New Year, in pious resolutions, and the in the extravagance of a general labial salute with or without the sanction of mistletoe!

From this newspaper 50 years ago. –

The Darlington-Richmond railway lines makes a loss of £15,500 a year, British Railways state in the information they have laid before the Transport Users'

Consultative Committee for the North-East.

They say that annual earnings on the line total £21,000 compared with estimated annual direct operating costs of £36,500. A public hearing of objections to the proposal to close the line will be held before the committee in Bondgate Memorial Hall, Darlington, on January 16. If the proposal is carried out, it will mean the withdrawal of passenger train services from Croft Spa, Moulton (an unstaffed halt), Catterick Bridge and Richmond.

But special trains will continue to run for servicemen at Catterick Camp. A spokesman for the Transport Users’ Consultative Committee confirmed this week that 42 objections to the proposal had been lodged.

SUN UP: Advertisement from this newspaper 50 year ago

In a statement of costs borne by the passenger, the railways say: “The road fares are higher than the rail fares, the latter not having been increased during recent fare revision because of the impending closure proposals.”

On travelling times between the various pick-up points, they say: “Journey times by bus are greater than by rail particularly where a change of bus at Darlington will be necessary, eg Croft to Moulton and beyond.”