The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-31
CTTY INTELLIGENCE.
ADDITIONAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE INSIDE p
DISASTER AT THE MINT.

Ignition of Escaping Gas In V@ult-A
severe Explosion Ensues-Three Men
BADLY Iniured-WindOws, Furniture,
and wood " Ork shattered.
For some time past neither Phtladelphles air
nor Phladelphia's buildings have been shaken
by any serious explosions, and we had Degan 10
hope that the calamitous results OF the last cnes
had given us long respite from their recur-
renee. This morning, however, at quarter be.
fore nine O'Clock another occur. ed at the United
States Mint, on Chesnut street east OF Broad.
Though particularly severe in its character
swayiug the entire structure and rumbling far
among the surrounding Oulldiugs-it did not ut
once result in any loss OF life. The circumstan-
ces attending it were rs fOlloSs:-
At the southeastern angle OF the MINT Is
located the office of the Chief COiner. In the
back portion of this room an extensive vault Is
built IN the WALL 1t is some eight feet wide by
fifteen feet long, aud has ceiling about four
teen te ct in height. Its sides support numerous
shelves and drawers, filed with manuscripts,
documents ard books. A gas tube, descending
to within seven feet OF the floor, hangs from the
ceiling. From this gas had been escap-
ing during the night, coming either from
a leak, or from an omission Ia turning OH the
stop-cocS. When the doors OF the vault we're
opened this morning the smeii OF gas was plsiny
perceptible, aud it was found that leak some,
wneTe existed. The door was allowed TO stand
aiar while a messenger was despatched for
gasftter. In a short time Mr.. William Horner,
a plumber, arrived. He entered the vault
pefceived that the gas had been stopped Of
and then called Tor match Tor the
purpose of making an examnation: One was
handed 10 him by Martin d. Davis, the Chief
Colner's assistant or clerk. Horner drew 1t
upon the jam of the door, but had hardly done
80 when the explosion occurred. At this mo-
ment MIR. Andrew Stiet, an assistant counter,
was sitting at a table in the room; Mr.. Horner
was Just inside the vault; Mr.. DAVIS was stand
ing near by. simultaneously with the explosion,
the ignlted gas rushed in flames through the
doorway of the vault. They reached Mr.. Stiet,
aud badly singed him about the head and neck,
fairly burning also the coat from his back. Mr.
Davis was hurled away from the door, receiving
injuries about his head face, neck, and arms.
Mr.. Horner was the most severely hurt OF the
three. In addition TO serious burns about the
exposed portions OF his body, he was either
thrown or leaped from window Immediately
adjoining the vault. He was picked up
in the yard below with deep cuts upon his head.
A trail OF blood marked his pas from the
vault, through the window to the ground. The
thin gs inside the vault were all tossed about and
badly scorched. The furniture in the room was
thrown hither and thtther, the window-panes
were sbyered, a heavily y-oult door, ,ahording exit
10 the hall, was shiyered and torn from its hinges
like piece of veneerlng. The ink-pOt on the
writing desk executed asomersault, leaving its
traces on the walls; while flying pieces of wood
deeply indented both walls and ceiling. Every
thing near the door OF tue vault was blackened
and burnt. The whole building shook. DIR.
Lnderman, Director OF the Nut, was sitting at
the time in his Office directly over the room in
which the explosion took place. His first inti-
nation Of the occurrence was lift of some three
feet from the floor. He rushed to the window,
and saw Horner lying in the yard below. The
report was very loud. In a few minutes a large
crowd OF people collected in the street, and
several fire engines hastily repaired to the spot
No fire, however, broke out, as the explosion
spent itself in moment. The structure itself
did not sustain any damage.
II Is supposed that as there was no circulation
OF air through the vault the escaped gas did
not issue through the open door, but ascended
to the ceiling, and there collected in mass
OF course, if this theory be true, the introduc.
tIon of a lighted match would at once set 1t
ablaze, and produce such an explosion as oc-
Cured
The employees in this place were all eon-
sideraby alarmed, but no one was injured save
those mentioned. These were at once attended
to by DR.. J. Rhea Barton. They were all mar.
ried men. Horner was removed in an am6u-
lance to the Pennsylvania Hospital. Davis was
taken to his home at Nineteenth and Wallace
street; Stief to his home at Sixth and Poplar
streets. None of their injuries are considered
In i,Linl