Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-02-25
INSATIATE DEATH.
ne LEVlES HIS TRIBUTE IN FLAME
AND EXPLOSION.
Seven Souls Sent to Eternity by the Fatal
Natural Casa Number of Buildings
Wrecked-Four Persons Gre
mated in Philadelphia.

WELLsBURG, W. ", Feb. 3 The most
terrible affair in the history of the state &C.
CURED i'll this city early this morning AT
o'clock sharp q terrific explosion was heard
followed by two others. The shock was ire
mendouS Windows were broken and doors
ratified mile from the scene of the explo-
SION Near the explosion people were thrown
from bed, furniture knocked down and
crockery destroyed. aEt'.
The explosion was Immediately followed
by flames in the wreck Of the house Of John
Helsley on Charles street The crowd rushed
there and found the building. large brick
house, completely demolished, and burning
fiercely. The dwellings of John Walters
and William Mooney, adjoining, were also
wrecked. A shoe shop belonging to man
named ESterly was also badly shattered A
haSty search was made of the ruins
of the Helsley house, and the dead bodies Of
John Helsey, aged IS; Ellen Helsley, wife,
S3; Jane HelSley, mother, aged 20; Pearl
Helsley, aged 6; Maud aged Is months
were found. In Walters house John Wal
ters Jr, aged Il, was killed Esterly.
owner of the shoe-Shop, was badly hurt
Six or eight others were more or less Sc
verely injured
The greatest excitement prevailed, and all
the population turned out. Water-plugs
were froLen up and the only engine in town
was useless. \ bucket brigade was formed
to the Ouio river some distance away, and
freezing cold water was passed along the
line to fight the flames. Many women
tainted, and it seemed as if the whole town
would GO No aid could be obtained from
outside towns. The telegraph office was
closed, and the operator could not be found
in the excitement. The house OF Walter &
Mooney burned rapidly.
Later another dead body, that of q town
character named Dutch john" was found.
The people lighting fire were nearly ex-
hauSted, when falling wall at a. m.
stopped further progress of the flames, and
the excite mont was somewhat allayed 1t
is found that nearly score Of
houses were badly injured by
the shock The Hudson hotel
suffered much damage. The plastering
was knocked down, and plate-glaSs windows
in the office shattered The total loss will
approximate $4,000.
Tue accident was caused by the explosion
of natural gas in the house of John Helsley,
but it will never be known just how. The
gas has been used here two years in every
house in town for fuel and lighting, and in
all factories, churches and public buildings,
and this is the first accident ever known
here.
Two More Railway Wrecks.
C1Nc1NNA ATT, Ohio, Feb The st. Louis
express train due hero Saturday morning,
ran into the rear car of the communication
train waiting on the side track at Delhi,
twelve miles from the city, injuring num-
Der OF passengers, all suburban residents OF
Cincinnati. The cause of the accident was
an open switch, but why it was open is not
clearly explained.
Among the injured are: Nelson Sayler,
lawyer, badly hurt; R. B. Price, seriously;
Robinson, aggage-master; McReady, Third
National bank; a. D. Clark, Home City;
Mr.. Thumherower Mr.. Snyder, Fern bank;
J. H. Long, Fern bank, badly hurt; Mr..
Snowden, leg broken; D. A. Woodruff, in
ternalIy; Mr.. Drake, North Bend, seriously;
Judge Donner, Of the common pleas court,
seriously; Nh Smith, Fern bank, slightly.
The engineer Of the st. Souls express was
also injured.
Not far from the same time another acct
dent occurred on the Bee line road at Lock
land station thirteen miles north Of this city.
The New York express train was approach
ing the city and had just passed Lockland
station when it ran over broken rail Two
sleeps and the rear passenger coach were
thrown from the track. No one was killed,
so far as is now known, and only two were
reported seriously injured, Max Fleischman,
of New York, brother Of Charles Fleisch-
man, of this city, and a lady from New
York, name unknown. Quite a number OF
others were more or less bruised.