The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-02-06
NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION
Many Persons Severely Injured
in Pittsburg, Pa.
Three Buildings Partly Demolished
in a Twinkling.

Much excitement was caused in Pittsburg,
Penn, by three explosions of natural gas
which occurred almost simultaneously in that
city. The first explosion took place in the
cellar of Mrs Hammersdorfer's shop at about
1875 A. NJ. Mrs. H1mmersdorfer sent her
sister, Mary Smoder, into the cellar for a
basket. When she reached the cellar she
struck match and instantly there was
loud explosion, and the little build
ing was almost shaken apart. The
proprictress was thrown across her shop,
and pastering, glass, and loose articles came
crashing in from all sides. The girl in the
cellar screamed wildly Mrs Hammersdor-
fer pulled her up from the cellar. Her little
daughter Lizzie was blown against the wall,
and covered with debris and badly hurt about
the head and face. Miss Smolder is so badly
burned that she cannot recover
Before people could recover their sef-pos-
session there was another explosion. 1t came
from the cellar of NORRIS saloon and
wrecked the basement. Mrs Morris, who
was getting dinner, was thrown against the
door and badly bruised. Her baby was
blown through window and more or less
cut and bruised Morris himself was in bed
at the time. He was blown out on the floor,
but not seriously injured. The barroom was
crowded with men, who were thrown about
In the mean time the third explosion oc-
Cured in George Muellers saloon across the
street. In the saloon at the time were Annie
Mueller, daughter of the proprietor Lizzie
Galmath,a cook; DR. Zeigler, of Allegheny, and
Jack Stern, a mill worker Miss Mueller was
just going down to he cellar when the explo-
sion occurred. She fell down slairs and was
caught by the feet, where she hung screaming.
Charles Ruth, barkeeper, ran into the room,
which by this time was in flames. He made
his way through the falling ruins and debris
to the cellar way and rescued her. Dr. Zeigler
was blown against wall and injured inter
nally Lizzie Galmath was burned about the
face and seriously hurt. Jack Stern was so
terribly burned that his death is only ques-
ton of few hours.
When the third explosion occurred passen-
ger car No. 20 of the Citizens line was Just
passing. A beer key blown from one of the
saloons hit the driver. William Kota, and
knocked him senseless The passengers were
not injured. August Horn, Jacob Stein,
Nellie Oxenhort, John Bernard, Willie A.
Patten and George Zinser, who were passing
along Penn avenue, were all more or less in.
jured.
The houses of Morris and Mueller were
badly wrecked and every house within q
square was more or less damaged. The loss
on buildings and stock is estimated at from
$l5, 600 to 100000.
The complete list of persons injured by the
explosion is as follows:
DR.. Ziegler, of Allegheny, jaw badly cut
and injured internally; William Kota, con-
ductor Citizens line, knocked off car by a
beer key and badly hurt; George Morris, bar
keeper at Mueller's saloon badly cut and leg
broken; Jabob Stern, severely cut about the
head, probably fatally hurt; Gust Horn, cut
and burned about the head not seriously
hurt; George Kinzer, baker, terribly
lacerated about the face, left eye
blown out and otherwise dangerous
ly hurt; Willie Oxenhart, thrown into the
gutter and badly injured internally George
Bernhard, burned about the head and badly
hurt; Willie Patton, cut on the head and
slightly injured; Mrs. Morris, blown against
the door in the cellar and badly hurt: Annie
Mueller, saloon keepers daughter, badly cut
about the face and head and injured internally,
George Gibson, driver of car "a, knocked off
the car and badly hurt Nicholas Derfler,
driver for Herb q Bro, feed store, badly
cut on face; Geo. Hammersdoerfer cut by
flying glass on the face, Mrs. DR.. Evans, cut
by glass in the face and severely wounded;
Lizzie Smolder, injured about the head and
face; Lizzie Hammersdoerfer, injured about
face and head.
or these Annie Mueller, Jacob Stern, Dr.
Zegler, Lizzie Smolder Willie Oxenhart,
VIM Kota and George Kinzer were so badly
injured that their recovery were considered
doubtful Mrs. Mueller, mother of Annie,
was missing,