Foreigners' Narrow Escape in Nanking Road Shanghai, Aug. 24.
'A. graphic story of the explosion is told by a foreigner who was riding a bus at the time.
told a. "North-Ching Daily News" reporter:
"I was travelling on the No. 1 Bus about 1 o'clock, and. we were just passing Chekiang Road when a Dlinding flash occurred, followed immediately by a terrifte explosion. The windows of the bus were shattered and the bus itself was severely damaged. The conductors bolted, "Two foreign ladies. were helped off the bus and managed to make their escape. Two Americans were seen to be badly shaken and were covered with blood but they did not seem to be more than badly hurt. 1, myself, escaped and found tater that Twas wearing the hat of one of the conductors. The bus driver behaved with great bravery and stuck to his post. After the first shock he actually managed to steer the bus into safety, under its own power. Dead bodies were lying all over the ground, and the explosion was evidently terrific' stout tte car's_sides, Major Hons Herons, of the Engineer Ca, S.C. alive and well to-day, How good fortune so. smiled. on" him In. the midst of the terrible tragedy outside the Sincere Ca, at 1pm. yesterday. Major Berents cannot recall. for all he-remembers fs the appalling. Ploston, his thankfunest when is color started, and. some tight mancauvring 10 get clear of the. debris tram wifes which were crashing own around him.
There was a considerable amount of motor trae othe time; several fare end an liefated bus were in front of Major Berents, and. an un: Known number behind. Tt wat not the time 10" dally" there, but. work was to be done, Two ladies, one American and one British, both hurt, ne apparently slightly. and the ollier more seriously in the Read, with blood pouring {rom a. wound above the Temples were acsised out and Major Berents took them to the Countsy Hospital.
When the time came to take stock of the damage, the ghastly horror of the explosion" was "evident on the sldes'and top of the ear. Human re: alas, paces of men and women who Were alive and well 't brief "Tew Moments before, "had been blown Aainst and on the ear and had to be removed Yesterday afternoon, damaged ast was, the excellent Ile. cat carried Major ""Berente, Wack to" duly tte Sincere building' Wes "saved other foreign woman Just passing
trough a sudden spurt of speed by the Chinese taxi-driver who, heard the noise of the shell-and_the ex-lesion immediately after and cleared the danger tone with six great dents the steet'hood ofthe car to show the narrowness of the escape.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.