Photo: The Glasgow Story
On Jan. 7, 1898, four Glasgow firemen - John Battersby, James Hastie, Charles Orr and David Smith - died in an explosion and collapse at W&R Hatrick & Co., wholesale and export druggists, on Renfield Street.
The fire was reported at 2:50 a.m.
According to The Glasgow Story website:
"Captain William Paterson was on the scene quickly with the Northern and Central Divisions of the city's fire service, and the blaze was brought under control.
"At about 4.20am however, as the last firemen were dampening the wreckage, there was a large explosion which was believed to have resulted from the ignition of chemicals stored on the site.
"Four firemen were killed in the blast and two others taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary with serious injuries."
