William Rae died as a result of burns received at a gas explosion in Hunter Street on Thursday, 24th November, 1904.
LOSSES BY FIRE
Gas Explosion in Glasgow – Fireman seriously injured
Yesterday morning at twenty five minutes past seven o’clock the Glasgow Brigade
were summoned by the ringing of a street alarm to a fire which had broken out in
the oil gas producing works of the North British Railway Company, situated at
the company’s mineral terminus in Hunter Street. Unfortunately, one of the tanks
or cylinders connected with the process exploded and seriously injured Branchman
William Rae, of the chief station in Ingram Street. The tank, which was made of
iron, and of boiler shape, was about 20ft in length, and the explosion caused a
rent in the side of about 2ft. Rae, who was standing with the branch immediately
in front, received the full rush of flame, which singed all the hair off his
face and head and burned him from the shoulders upwards. He was at once conveyed
in an ambulance wagon to the Royal Infirmary. Luckily his eyesight is uninjured.
The damage caused by the fire is principally to the gas storage portion of the
works. Another tank exploded about ten minutes after that which caused Rae’s
injuries, but the firemen had kept clear of danger.
(The Glasgow Herald, Friday, November 25, 1904. Page 9.)
A Glasgow Fireman
William Rae, a member of the Glasgow Fire Brigade, died yesterday evening in the
Royal Infirmary from the effects of burning injuries received on Thursday last
at a fire in the oil gas producing work situated at the North British Railway
Company’s terminus in Hunter Street. Rae, who was a merit class fireman, and was
a joiner to trade, entered the brigade in November 1891, and rose through the
various grades, being in charge of the joiner’s shop at the chief station during
the past seven years. He leaves a widow and four of a family (the eldest being
10 years of age) to mourn his loss.
(The Glasgow Herald, Monday, November 28, 1904. Page 11.)
Death
RAE – At the Royal Infirmary, on 27th inst., William Rae, aged 35
years, Chief Station, Glasgow Fire Brigade; the result of injuries received by
explosion at fire, Oil Gas Works, Hunter Street, on 24th November.
(The Glasgow Herald, Monday, November 28, 1904. Page 1.)