CANADA: Lids Off

“O God! O Montréal!”

—Samuel Butler (1878).

In fear & trembling most of Montreal went about repeating Samuel Butler’s words last week. POW! WHEEE! FUMP! For three long hours manhole covers burst from their settings, hurtled through the air, followed by 20-ft. comets of flame. The first covey of covers was flushed on the Boulevard St. Denis. Soon they were popping on St. Lawrence Boulevard, Jean Talon, St. André and De Fleurimont Streets. Mile away, an isolated gas station at the corner of Cremazie & St. Lawrence Boulevards blew up with a roar. A precise ambulance interne noted that the manager when picked up had been blown just 35 ft. Two miles further out the manholes of Guin Boulevard rocketed in succession.

All day long the citizens of Montreal walked delicately as Agag, never knowing what lay beneath their feet. For the violence of the explosions, injuries were surprisingly slight. No one was killed, only 20 injured. In twelve city blocks not a whole window pane remained. Heat from flaming sewers was unbearable. One three-story house was blown to bits. Three of the inmates were blown clear into the street, four more were dug out of the cellar.

In the centre of the exploding district Eugenie Laroix, 10, was blown high into the air. She fell into the arms of three athletic Brothers of the Christian School who carried her home, uninjured.

In St. Edouard’s Convent, 35 white-coiffed Sisters of the Holy Cross filed quietly into the refectory, bowed their heads at grace, sat down to their frugal supper, when the cellar blew up. Nuns were tossed round the room, the ceiling fell, yet only one Sister was injured, and she not seriously.

Explanation for the disaster offered by Montreal Light, Heat & Power Consolidated: gasoline had leaked into the sewer