The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-05
NATURAL GAS AGAIN.
THREE HOUSES BADLY WRECKED.
Ono Woman Horribly Burned and Another
Fatally Injured by tho EEploslon-Ths
RuiR and DlIaStsr Wrought by
Leaking Natural Gas Main.

PIrTsBURGH, Pa, Dec. 4.-This after
noon about o'clock natural gas ex-
, plosion, with probable fatal results, and
destroying much property, occurred at No.
545 Grant street, in the cellar OF house
occupied by Mrs. ]. Meehan. Almost
simultaneously similar explosions accom-.
panied by tremendous reports occurred in
the adjoining cellars OF Louis Fayills, a
fruit dealer, and J. ]. Flannery's livery
stable and undertaking rooms. There Is
q six inch main running along Grant
street, but has no connection with the
houses in that square.
The gas probably escaped from the main
and found its way to the adjoining cellars.
Shortly after 4 O'clock Katie Griffin, a
domestic in the employ OF Mrs. Meehsn,
started for the cellar for coal, taking
with her g lighted lamp. AT the
cellar door she requested Mrs. Phipps,
who was in the room, to hold the
lamp. No sooner had she opened the
door than gas rushed out aud ignited
from the lamp in Mrs. Phipps' hand. A
terrific explosion ensusd, followed in
quick succession by explosions in the
CelIar5 Oh cIannery and tAVilla.
RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION.
The noise was heard squares away, and
created the utmost excitement. Sheets of
flames burst from the windows, doors and
sides OF the houses. From within were
heard the screams Of the terrified
women and children. Several men
forced their way through the fire
into Mrs. Meehan's house, where
terrible sight met their gaze. Prone
upon the floor with every vestige Of
CLONES burned from her body was lying
haLle Griffin, bleeding from a deep gash
IN hers SIDE. Near her was Mrs. Phipps
wrapped In flames. Both women were
grabbed up and carried quickly from the
II was found that Kate Griffin wes
hutaed beyond hopes Of recovery. Size
was removed tothe Homeopathic hospital,
where W she is now lying unconscious. Mrs,
fihlpps was severely burned but her in
Juries are not thought to be fatal.
IN Mrs. Meshan's house there were
eight women and children, and in Flan-
nn9ty's, Mrs. Flannery anu two babies.
inc iire spread 80 rapidly that they were
rescued with difficulty, but ali were
finally taken out uniujurod and conveyed
to places Of safety. Meanwhile the flames
gained such headway that they could not
De controlled and Flannery's three-etory
ot'sk was completely destroyed.
HOUSES WRECKED.
The house Of FGvilla and Meehsn were
not entirely burned, put were so badly
wrecked by the explosion that it will prob
ably be necessary to tear them down.
The news Of the casualty spread quickly
and in few minutes the streets were
black with people struggling to get near
the scene and learn tho exact results.
The widest rumoEs prevailed. It was
first stated that seventeen had been
killed and injured, but when Il
was definitely ascertained that the VIC
tins numbered only two the excitement
gradually subsidized, and the throngmelted
away. a short distance from the scene
Of the accident Faith Cure meeting was
in progress, Tho explosions shook The
building and created panic, but all
reached the street without injury. The
loss will probably reach $4,000.