St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-01
A Terrible and Fatal Explosion Of
Natural Gas at Pittsburg Yes
terday Morning.
Seven Persons Fatally and Eight Ser.
iously Injured. and Many Build
ings Wrecked.
jured in Railway Accident ON the
Lake Shore.
Two Boys Killed by Falling Over an En-
bankment in Pittsburg-M iscellaneous
Casualty Record.

sponSibe for another terrible explosion
which ut this hour seems to involve not only
a wreck Of houses, but serious loss OF life,
and maimiugs which will follow the victims
to their graves. Shortly before IL o'clock
there was an alarm on the big bell In the
municipal hall tower, but 1t was OF such an IT.
regular character that even Chief Evans,
who was in the iotunda of the hall at the
time, was at a loss to know where 1t came
from. In moment word was transmitted
by telephone ut the mayors office, and al the
engine houses that 4 disastrous explosion OF
natural gas had occurred a. the forks Of the
road, otherwise known as Thirty-fourth
and Butler streets, aud that there had been
serious loss OF life, as we'll as great destruc-
tion of property. The meager details which
could be secured over the telephone were to
the effect that the explosion occurred
in August Ruh's saloon, No. 1881 Pcnusyl-
vania avenue, and that the adjoining build
ing had also beer wrecked by the explosion.
The conclusion created the widest excite
ment in the immediate vicinity, and hun
dreds OF people gathered about, us the ruins
had taken fire, and rumors were current
that a number Of persons were buried in the
debris. Just few moments after that oc
curreuce, Citizens line car passed in front
of the wrecked buildings filed with passen-
gers. A second explosion occurred and the
car was thrown from the track by the force
of the upheaval. The CONSERVATION among
the passengers was more than panic and
scarcely one Of the whole number escaped
without more or less injury. The driver
was blown from his position and so severely
in he IN rtpO
same time, pieces Of timber and e ying de-
bris of all kinds
WE'RE HURLED IN THE AIR
by the second explosion, and caused great
havoc among those who had gathered in the
vicinity, and the list of injured was swelled
until II had reached between twenty aud
thirty. Several other eruptions followed, and
the mum Der of houses EN- braced was increased
to ten or fifteen. About twenty minutes
past l2 the signal that the fire had been ex-
tinguished was sent in, but scarcely ten min
utes had elapsed until another alarm was
sounded from the same box, and additional
steamers hurried to the spot, not only TO aid
In extiugushing the flames, but to assist in
aiding and caring for the injured, aud hunt
ing for those who were supposed to be buried
under the buildings which have been in
DETAILS OF THE EXPLOSION.
The explosion occurred in three houses.
One was the Iron City hotel and saloon,
operated by an Englishman named George
Morris. II was low frame building. twelve
feet front and thirty feet deep. II had kitchen
and dining room in the basement; above the
barroom were two bedrooms, next to this was
the meat shop Of Mrs. Hammersdorfer,
which building is just like the one occupied
by Morris Across Thirty-third street was
the saloon of George Mueller. He lived In
four story trick house, the barroom being
on the first floor, and the
tobacco manufactory, also operated
by Mueller, on the second floor. Above this
aud in the front of the second floor was
sleeping apartment. The first explosion was
in the cellar Of Mrs. Hammersdorfer, about
$50 a. IN. Mrs. Hammerrdorfer sent her
sister, Mary Smolder, into the cellar for
basket. When she reached the cellar she
struck match and instan tly there was a loud
explosion and the little building was almost
shaken apart The proprlctress was thrown
across her shop; plastering, glass and loose
articles came crashing in from all sides, and
:he girl in the cellar screamed wildly Before
the people could recover self-posscssion there
was another terrible explosion. II came from
the cellar of Morris saloon and wrecked the
basement. Miss Morris, who was getting
dluncr ready, was thrown against the door
and badly bruised Her little baby was
thrown through the window and more or less
cut and bruised. Morris himself was in bed
at the time and he was blown out on the
floor, but was not seriously injured. The
bar room was crowded with people who were
thrown about like ten pins. Mira. Hammers
dorfcr went TO aid her sister and pulled her
up from the cellar. Her little daughter, Liz
zie, was blown against the wall and was COW
ered with debris, and badly hurt about the
head aud face. Miss Smoder, the girl who
went 10 the cellar, is badly injured and can
not recover. In the meantime
A THIRD EXPLOSION
occurred in George Mucller's saloon, across
the street In the saloon at the time were
Anna Mueller, daughter Of the proprietor;
Lizzie Elmoth, a cook; DR.. Ziegler, of Allie
gheny, and Jack Stern, mill worker. Miss
Mueller was just going down cellar when the
explosion occurred. She fell down the stairs
and Was caught by her feet, where she hung
screaming Charles Ruth, barkeeper, heard
ner scream and ran into the room, which by
this time was IN flames. lie made his way
through the falling ruins and debris to the
cellar way and rescued her DIR. Ziegler was
blown against the wall and injured inter
naly. Lizzie Elmoth was burned about the
face aud head. Jack Stern was SO terribly
burned that his death Is only a question Of Il
few hours.
When the third explosion occurred Clti-
ZeDs passenger car numbrr 20 was just pass
ing. a beer keg was blown from one saloon
ami hit the driver, VIM. Kota, and knocked
4 EN..s..
Oxcnshert, a girl, J. Conrad, Willie Patton,
with Geo. inner, were passing along Penn
sylvaDia avenue, and all were more or less
injured by the fyng debris Of the explosion.
The houses OF Morris and Mueller were badly
wrecked, aud every house within a square
was more or less damaged. Among the
number were Ebert's saloon, Lawrence bank,
Tess drug store, Giles confectionery and
PcytOu's salOon. No one was killed outright,
but four or five will die.
Stein, who was 10 Mueller's bar room, is
now reported dead.
There Is intense excitement IN the neigh
borhood and a gang Of men have been
formed among citizrns 10 tear up the gas
pipes tonight. The loss 10 building and stock
is from els, eco 10 $50, COO. The gas FIRE Is
still burning in the sewers.
LIST OF the INJURED.
The complete list Of the persons injured By
the gas explosions to-day is as follows:
DR.. Ziegler Of Allegheny, blown into the
air jaw tadly cut and injured internally.
William KOts, conductor citizens line,
knocked of the car by beer ksg aud badly
hurt.
George Morris, barkeeper at Nurller's
saloon, badly cut By broken glass; James
Stein, severely cut about the bead, probably
fatally hurt
Gust Horn, cut and burned about the bead,
net seriously hun.
George Ringer. baker, eye cut and ter
ribiy lseersted sbnut the fare, left eye blorD