The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-01
DANGERS OF NATURAL GAS.
Pittsburg Startled by Three Explosions
Caused by Defects in the Pipes.
Twenty-Five or Thirty Persons Injured, Sew
en- of Whom will Die-Damage to Build
ings and Other Property.
EXPLOSIONS AT PITTsBURG.
Seven Persons Fatally Hurt, and Properly
Seriously Damaged.

Seven Persons Fatally Hurt, and Properly
Seriously Damaged.
PITTsBURe, Jan. 31.-Natural gas is RESPONSE
BILE for another terrible explosion which, at this
hour, seems to involve not only the wrecking of
houses but serious loss of life and maimings
which will follow the victims to the grave
Shortly before IL o'clock there was an alarm on
the big bell in the Municipal Hall tower, but of
such irregular character that even Chief Evans
who was in the rotunda at the time, was at a
loss to know where it came from. In a moment
word was transmitted by the telephones at the
mayors Office and engine-hou that am ex-
plosion Of natural gas had occurred at
tho forks of the road, otherwise
known as Thirty fourth and Butler streets,
and that there had been serious loss of life, as
well as great destruction 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. 1851 Penn
avenue, and that an adjoining building
had also been wrecked by the explosion. The
concussion created wild excitement in the imme
date vicinity, and hundreds Of people gathered
about as the ruins had taken fire, and it was
rumored that a number of persons were buried
in the debris, Just few minutes after the oc-
currence. a Citizens'-line car passed in front of
the wrecked buildings, filed with passengers.
A second explosion occurred, and the car was
thrown from the track by the force of the up
heaval. The CONSERVATION among the
passengers was more than a panic,
and scarcely one of the whole number escaped
without more or less injury. The driver was
blown from his position and so severely injured
that he may not recover At the same time
pieces of timber and flying debris of all kinds
were hurled IN the air by the second explosion,
which caused havoc among those who had gath
cred in the vicinity, and the list of injured was
swelled till it had reached between twenty and
thirty. Several other eruptons followed, and
the number of houses embraced was increased
to ten or fifteen.
About twenty minutes past II the signal
that the fire had been extngushed was sent in,
but scarcely ten minutes had elapsed until an
other alarm was sounded from the same
box and additional steamers hurried to the spot,
not only to aid in extinguishing the flames, but
to help in caring for the injured, and in hunting
for those who were supposed to be buried under
the buildings which mad been involved in the
general destruction. In the excitement immedi-
ately following, the only names of injured ascer-
tanned were those of Gibson, the car-driver; Au-
gust Horn, an iron worker and Finger, baker
The injured were taken to the Office of Clark's
Solar iron works
DETAILS OF THE EXPLOSIONS
The explosions occurred in three buildings.
One was the Iron City hotel, in which was a
saloon operated by an Englishman named Geo.
Morris. It was low frame building twelve
feet front and thirty feet deep, occupied by a
man named Blann, who had kitchen and din
ing room in the basement. Above the bar-room
were two bedrooms. Next to this was the meat
shop of Mrs. Hammersdorfer, the building being
just like the one occupied by Nor
ris. Across Thirty third street was
the saloon of George Mueller, who
lived in a four-story brick house, his bar-room
being on the first floor; a tobacco mandatory,
also operated by Mueller, occupied the second
floor, over this, and on the front of the second
floor, were sleeping rooms. The first explosion.
about 1895 A. NJ. Mrs. Hammersdorfer sent her
sister, Mary Smolder, in the cellar for a basket
When she reached the cellar she struck match,
and instantly there was a loud explosion, and
the little building was almost shaken apart. The
proprietress was thrown across her shop; plaster
ing glass and loose articles came crashing in
from all Sides and the girl in the cellar screamed
wildly. Before the people could recover their
self possession there was another terrible explo-
sion. 1t came from the cellar of Morris's saloon
and wrecked the basement. Mrs. Nor
ris who was getting dinner ready, was
thrown against door and badly
bruised. Morris himself was in bed at the time
He was blown out on the foor but not seriously
who were thrown about like ten pins. Mrs
Hammersdorfer found her sister and pulled her
up from the cellar. Her little daughter, Lizzie
was blown against wall and covered with
dahu oy,d hnl1 h,,v< o1o,,k
Miss Smolder. the girl who went into the eel
lar, is so badly burned that she cannot recover.
In the meantime third explosion occurred in
George Mueller's saloon, across the street In
the saloon. at the time, We're Annie Mueller,
daughter of the proprietor. Lizzie Galmoth. a
cook; DR. Ziegler, of Allegheny, and Jack Stein,
a mill worker Miss Mueller was just going down
cellar when the explosion occurred. She fell
down stairs and caught by her feet, where she
hung screaming. Charles Ruth, the bar-keeper
heard her screams and ran to the room, which
by this time was in flames. He made his way
through the falling ruins and debris to the eel
larway, and rescued her. DR.. Ziegler was blown
against wall and injured internally. Lizzie
Galmoth was burned about the face and other
wise hurt: Jack Stein was so terribly burned
that his death is only question Of few hours
When the third explosion occurred, citizens
passenger car No. 20 was just passing; beer
keg blown from the saloon struck the driver
VIM. kotta, and knocked him senseless Au-
gust Horn. Jacob Stein, Nellie Oxenshort Ia girl.
John Bernard, Willie Patton, and Geo
Zenser were passing along Penn av-
enue and all were more or less
injured by flying debris. By this explosion the
houses of Morris and Mueller were badly
wrecked. and every house within square was
more or less damaged Among the number were
Ebert's saloon. Lawrences Bank, Lees drug
store, SCOTS grocery, Boehm's jewelry store,
Giles's confectionery and Peyton's saloon No
one was killed outright, but four or five will die
Stein. who was in Mueller's barroorn is now re-
ported dead. There is intense excitement in the
neighborhood, and gang Of men has been
formed among the citizens TO tear up the gas
pipes tonight The loss to building and stock is
from $4,000 to $40, ,000 The gas FIRE is still
burning in the sewers.
LIST OF THE INJURED.
complete list Of persons injured is as fol-