The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1885-12-11
NATURAL GAS.


Terrible Wreck and Probable Loss Of Two
Human Lives BY an Explosion of the In
sidious Element In PIttsburgh--Three
Houses Wrecked and Several Persons In
jurcd BY Falling Debris.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, December B.-Yes-
terdsy morning at four o'clock natural
gas explosion, with probably fatal results
and destroying much property, occurred
at 545 Grant street, In the cellar of
house occupied by J. Meehan. Almost
simultaneously similar explosion, ac-
companied by tremendous reports, oc-
CURED in the adjoining cellars of Louis
Favilla, fruit dealer, and ]. ]. Flan-
nery's livery stable and undertaking
rooms. There is six-inch main running
along Grand street, but it had no connec-
tions with the houses that suffered. The
gas probably escaped from the main
and found Its way to the cellars. Shortly
after four O'Clock Katie Griffin, domes-
tic employed by Mrs. Meehan, started In
to the cellar for coal, taking with her
lighted lamp. At the cellar door she re-
quested Mrs. Phipps, who was in the
room, to hold the lamp. No sooner had
she opened the door than the gas rushed
out and ignited from the lamp In Mrs.
Phipps' hands. A terrific explosion en-
sued, followed In quick succession by ex-
plosions in the cellars of Flapnery and
Favilla. The noise was heard for squares
away, and created the most intense ex-
element. Sheets Of flames burst from
the windows and doors of the wrecked
houses. From within came the screams
of the terrified women and children.
a HORRIBLE SIGHT.
Several men worked their way through
the fire into Mrs. Meehan's house, where
q terrible sight met their gaze. Prone
upon the floor, with every vestlge of
clothes burned from her body, lay Kate
| Griffin, bleeding from cash in her side.
Near her was Mrs. Phipps, wrapped In
| flames. Both women were picked up
and carried from the burning build
ing. 1t was found that Kate Grit
fin was burned beyond all hopes of
recovery. She was removed to the
Homeopathic Hospital, where she now
Is lying unconscious. Mrs. Phipps is Sc
verely burned, but her injuries are not
considered fatal. On the upper floor
| of Mrs. Meehan's house were eight
women and children; in Flan-
babies, and In Favilla's Mrs.
| Euflih dhu iASh hSPACUt ASs-SacS.
The fire spread so rapidly that they were
rescued with difficulty, but all were
finally taken out uninjured except Mrs.
Flavilla and young Case, who were quite
seriously hurt by falling debris. Mean
while the flames gained such headway
that the three-story brick building was
completely destroyed. The other houses
were not entirely burned, but were SC
4 badly wrecked by the concusslon that II
will probably be necessary to tear then
down. The news of the casualty In few
minutes caused the streets to- be black
with people struggling to get peal
the scene and learn the exact results. Ths
widest rumors prevailed. It WAS frs
stated that seventeen persons had Heel
killed and injured, but when 1t wa
definitely ascertained that the -yicsim
seriously hurt numbered only two the ex
cltement gradually subsidized and the thfon
dispersed. A short distance from th
scene of the accident faith-cure meeting
was in progress. The explosion shoe
the building and created panic, but a
reached the street without injury. TIL
loss will reach $40. .000