The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-24
EXPLOSION OF GAS.
Several Natural Gas Explosions Reported,
But the Most Wonderful is the Miraculous
Escape of a Family of six.

Several Natural Gas Explosions Reported,
But the Most Wonderful is the Miraculous
Escape of a Family of six.
PITTsBURG, Pa, Dec. 21.-Hatural gas has
been playing sad havoc at different places
in Western Pennsylvania within the
past twenty.four hours, reports OF
explosions attended with fatal and
serious results having been received
from Butler and Washington, while in this
city building on Magee street, occupied by
II. Studt as grocery store. was completely
demolished this evening by the explosion,
which terribly frightened residents in that
vicinity, and partially damaged property to
the residence of William Rabe was partly
wrecked, and Rsbe and his wife and child
injured so badly that all have
since died. Mrs. Rabe arose during
the night and went into the cellar,
with lighted candle, when the explosion
teok place. A Post special says the excite
ment at Washington is intense, as many
people living there have natural gas in their
houses. An explosion at Butler, Pa, oc-
CURED about L O'Clock this morning
and came very nearly ending in
q horrible disaster. A special to
Commercial Gazette just received says the
fine brick residence Of John Gates is entirely
demolished, and the family, consisting OF
himself, wife and four children all grown
up, were buried in the debris. Fortunately
the entire family were rescued without hsv-
ing sustained fatal injuries, although they
were more or less seriously hurt
1t appears that they retired about 10
O'Clock, and probably in two hours Winnie,
daughter, aged twenty, who slept down
stairs, swoke and noticed tiny blue fame
Play ing on the hearthstone. She got up and
put it out, and then called her brother John,
who, with light, went to the cellar to in
yestigate. He had no sooner opened the
door than a terrible explosion followed. and
the building was raised from its
foundations aBd came down q mass of ruins.
People living q quarter OF mile felt the
shock and in a short time plenty OF willing
hands were at work trying to save the lives
OF the six human beings who were known.to
have been in the building at the time the
explosion occurred. The first one taken out
was Leonard, aged twenty eight years. He
was painfully bruised and 1t is thought sus-
tanned internal injuries. John Gates, Jr,
was next found. He was badly burned
about the face, neck and arms. but not se-
riously hurt.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gates escaped with a few
bruises, and the daughters, Winnie aud EN-
lily, were found in the coal vault uninjured.
The escape OF all from instant death was
miraculous. The loss on the building aud
furniture will reach So, 500 Mr.. Gates has
been in the gas and coal business for seven
teen years, and this is the first time he has
suffered from an explosion. There is good
deal of mystery surrounding the accident
There was no natural gas in the house. and
the gas mains are thirty.fve feet away
and buried three feet under ground. 1t is
supposed that there was leak in the main
line, and that during the late cold spell the
ground was frozen so as to hermetically
seal sll the escape. This being the case, the
gas impregnated the ground and found its
way TO the cellar through rocks and crevices.
A thorough investigation will be Instituted
at once by the Coroner and town author
tiles