The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-22
FEARFUL FATALITIES.
Terrific Explosion of
Natural Gas.
LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
News From the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
that WolseIey has
Suicided.
Natural Gas.

~Nat0Ea4 WAS
PIrrsBuRG, February 2l.-A terrific
explosion OF natural gas occurred in
two story brick dwelling occupied by
Kelsey Bros, cigar makers, Wellsburg,
w. Va, at 1.30 this morning The
building, together with adjoining prop
erty, was entirely demolished and SIX
persons are reported killed.
STUBENvILLE, Ohio. February PA
terrific natural gas explosion occurred
at Wellsburg. West Virginia, seven
miles down the river, this morning, by
gas leaking in the cellar of two-story
brick, occupied by r. Hellesely & Bro
theirs, cigar makers. This building and
the adjoining one, occupied by Luke
Weller, saloon, also substantial brick,
we're blown to atoms. The debris took
fire, and the intense cold gave the fire
sway, and itspread rapidly to adjoining
buildings. The shock of the explosion
was so terrible that glass was shattered
and the plaster shaken from ceilings in
nearly every residence IN town. The
inabitants ran in all directions terror
stricken. A great many buildings were
found badly damaged quite distance
from the explosion. AS far as learned
four were killed and two injured. The
fire is under control. Loss, $4,000.
BY great effort the fire was confined
dwelling houses adjoining. The whole
family of Mr.. Helesley, consisting of him
self, wife, mother and two children were
instantly killed, Several others are re-
ported fatally injured.
Later reports from the scene of the
gas explosion at Wellsburg increase the
horrors of the singular disaster SiA
lives are known to be lost, viz. Mr..
Helseley, his wife, mother, Mrs. Helseley,
two children OF Mr.. Helseley, one aged
6 years, the other IS months. The
oldest of the two children was taken
out of the ruins alive, but so seriously
injured that it died at 4 pm. The
youngest child has not yet been found.
Mr.. Lucas Walters, wife and two child
rem, were saved, but the oldest son,
aged about II years, is missing. The
missing named are undoubtedly in the
ruins. Mrs. Walters sustained injuries,
but they are not considered dangerous.
Leonard Esterdar, shoemaker
doing business in a small frame
shop adjoining Walters house, who
boarded with Mr.. Walters, and was
asleep i'll the room at Mr.. Walters, re-
ceived injuries not considered serious.
Miss Lacy Letzkus, residing with Mr..
Walters, asleep on the second floor, was
carried with her bed by the explosion
into an adjoining lot and miraculously
escaped injury The firemen are busily
throwing water on the ruins, endea-
youring to cool off the debris so that
search can be made for the remains of
| the two missing children.
As to the cause of the explosion, it is
reported by reliable persons that Mr..
/ Helesely stated, during the day and
evening, that gas was leaking in his
cellar, and that he had opened up some
of the approaches thereto TO allow the
gas to escape, and retired for the night.
The supposition is that the escaping
gas found its way from the cellar to the
upper rooms of the house, and, coming
in contact with the fire in the CRATES
or gas Jets, the explosion took
place. Helseley and Walters houses
Joined and were tWo-story brick and
recently built Both buildings were
entirely demolished and portions there
of were scattered from 100 to $50 feet in
every direction. The house occupied by
! Martin Brownlee on the south east
corner from Helseley, an old structure
was almost shaken to pieces. The
blacksmith shop of George Davidson
OpDOSlGC bllC I1CtDClCy AiOOoC, Go Gil
tirely demolished His residence adj
Joining the shop is almost total wreck
Two dwellings of Mr.. John Fare, the
shop and dwelling of Andrew Barth
north of Davidson's, were badly
damaged. The occupants of these
houses were thrown out of their beds
and those who were up were staggered
by the shock, but none of them were
injured. Windows were broken ano
doors blown open two blocks ane
more, north, south and west o.
the explosion. On the east, the house
on Commerce street, up on the hill, II
the vicinity of the Catholic church, suf
fered by having much of the gias:
broken. The "oid brewery" OF Leonard
Hebranke had nearly every light 0
glass in it broken. In fact, every house
as before stated, within two and hal
squares, is more or less damaged. Ths
explosion was terrific. 1t was heard TO
miles in the surrounding country, anG
| many farmers made haste to town II
ascertain the cause. The conclusion
was felt in every house in town. Win
dows, furniture and crockery were raj
tied in way to terrify and bewilder tn
! inhabitants, At Lazarville. one AM
one-quarter miles north, the conclusion
was felt.
THE MAJORITY of those who inten
l attending the inauguration will coun
the cost, and to them the matter c
: through cars other than sleepers-whert
: in preforce expense must be incurre
t to the extent of the accommodation
t secured-becomes an item not to be di:
!, missed without thought. The course {
the B. & D. management, always pre-
gressive and liberal, puts the tastes
:. time and the finest accommodation!
upon the basis SO eagerly sought, to vii
! not one cent extra, and no rule mad'
: as upon other lines, that passenger
R shall not go upon certain trains withoT
o paying big money additional. On Il !
: B. & O., Inauguration tickets, will /
O good upon all trains, and no rule mau
n as upon other lines, to confne reduce
/ rates to slow trains and inferior accom-
o modations.
= Bank Statement.
Mr. w. EnIr,,nrxy 81 THE week