Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-01
!. brick which had been hurled nearly 200
A Day Too Late.

=
Gas Company. Last week number Of
them consulted in reference to taking legal
action against the county to compel them to
make the pipes safe beyond any possible
doubt. Action Of this nature would have
been taken in few days.
Indignant Citizens.
The indignation against the gas COM
paRy run very high, and threats OF tearing
up the pipes are freely made. State Senator
Uppermsn is engaged in draughting bill TO
compel councils to take measures for
toe safety of the people, Messrs.
Banmann and Fogle, who own
buildings at 340l and 3403 Penn avenue
will at once bring suits for damages against
the Penn Fuel Company, and many Of those
injured have already declared their inten-
ton of doing something. The cause OF the
explosion was big leak in the huge main
Of the Fuel Gas Company, which runs
along Penn avenue close to the euro.
Another One,
There was also an explosion Of natural
gas early this morning in Mifln township,
opposite McKeesport, on the line of the
Carpenter Gas Company, which has 9 line
running from the Murrsysville well on high
pressure to supply Woods mill at McKees-
port The explosion shook many houses
in McKeespsrt, and broke some glass, but
fortunately no person was injured.
Whore the Explosion Occurred.
The explosion occurred in three build
ings. One was the Iron City Hotel q Sa-
loon operated by an Englishmsn named
George Morris, low, frame building about
twelve feet in front and thirty feet deep. 1t
is occupied BY Morris family; who had
their kitchen and dinipg.room in the base.
ment. Above the bar-room were two bed
rooms; next to this, separated by space OF
about six inches, WIS the meat shop Of Mrs.
Hammarsdoerfer which was building Just
like the one occupied by Morris. Across
Thirty-third street was the Salooa of George
Mueller He lived in a four-story brick
house the bar room being on the first floor
and tabscco manufacturing shop operated
by Mueller, was on the second floor. Above
this and in the front of the second aoog were
the sleeping apartments
The First Explosion.
The first explosion was in the cellar of
Mrs. Ha nmardoerfers place. About twer-
ty-Gve minutes Of eleven clock Mrs. Ham
mardoerfer sent her sister, girl of about
twenty, named Mary Smolder, down into
the cellar for a basket The girl had no
lamp or candle with her but on reaching
the cellar she struck a match on the stone
wall and instantly there was loud explo-
sion and the building was almost blown
apart. The proprietress, was thrown across
her shop, the plastering, glass and loose ar
ticles came crashing In from AL sides, and
the girl IN the cellar screamed wildly. Be
fore the people could recover their self
possession there was another terrible
explosion. 1t came from the cellar
of Morris saloon and wrecked the in.
terror OF the basement. Mrs Morris,
who was getting dinner ready, was thrown
against door and badly bruised; her little
baby was blown through a window and
more or less cut and bruised Morris him
self was in bed at the time. He was blown
out on the floor, aud made dash for his
money, which was in bureau, and then he
hastened down stairs. The bar-room was
full of men who were thrown abont like ten
pins The bar-keeper went straight up in
the air and his kneesrested on the bar when
he recovered himself. BY this time Mrs.
II Hammarsdoerfer found her sister and pulled |
her up from the cellar. Her little daughter
Lizzie was covered by the falling debris,
and was badly cut up about the head and
breast. Miss Smoldeg is so badly injured
she cannot recover.
Buried in the Ruins.
Charles Ruth, the bar-keeper in Muellers
saloon, heard the first report and ran to the
door to see what was the matter. Just as
he got to the door the second explosion
Before Ruth could get out on the
to see what had happened, the
whole of the contents Of the saloon, bar,
plastering barrels and beams were blown
forward and he was for moment buried
in the ruins. At the time OF the explosion
Miss Anna Mueller, daughter Of the owner
of the place, and the cook, Lizzie Galnith,
were in the barroOm, as well as Dr. Xiegler,
Of Allegheny, and Jack Stein, a millworkar.
Hung by Her Feet.
Miss Mueller was Just going down into
the cellar as the explosion took place. She
fell into the cellarway and caught by her
feet, where she hung, screaming with terror.
Ruth heard her screams and ran into the
room, which by this time was in flames.
He made his way through the falling ruins
and the rubbish to the cellarwey and res.
cued the girl. She was fearfully bruised
and may not recover. The cook was also
very badly burned. She was blown ont on
the pavement, where she lay Stunned for
some time. She was covered with part of
the wreck Of the building, and was not
noticed for some time. She was taken
to the house of a neighbor with Mos Muel-
Ter, and both are now under treatment from
Drs. Evans and Osburne. DR.. Iiegler was
blown forward and was cut about the head
and face aad was injured Internally. Jack
Stein was 80 badly hurt that his life was
merely a question of moments at best, and
at > so he was reported to be dead. He is
married and lives in house near the scene
of the accident. At the time of the explo-
sion Miss Meha 0xenhart the daughter of
baker who lives a few doors above
Mueller's, was standing on the pavement
near the door of the saloon. She was struck
by two empty beer kegs, and pile oflumb-
er was deposited on her after she fell in the
gutter on a sheet Of ice. She was so buried
by the wreckage that her presence was not
known until a mill man, who ran up, step
ped on her arm and caused her to moan.
1t was several minutes before she could be
extricated She was very badly hurt-be-
ing unconscious when she was carried into
her homo.
In Bed.
Mueller was in bed asleep at the time of
the explosion and was not not around until
some of the men below called to him to get
out. He was so stunned by the explosion
and frightened by the flames which sur
rounded him, that for few moments he did
not know which way to turn. He escaped
by back stairway and was not much
hurt.
Besides those who have been mentioned
as being injured there were many others.
The cause Of the explosion was big
leak in the huge main Of the Fuel Gas
Company which runs along Butler street
close to the curb.