The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-05
a Tprr,bIe Exnloston.


PTTTsBURe, Pa, Jan. 31.-ThTee ex-
plosions of natural gas occurred this
morning near Thirty fourth street on
Pennsylvania avenue. Six people are
reported killed, twenty injured and six
to eight houses wrecked.
Natural gas is responsible for another
terrible explosion which, at this hour,
seems to involve not only the wreck of
houses, but serious loss of life and
manning which will follow the victims
to the graves.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock there was an
alarm given on the big bell in Municipal
hall. It was of such an irregular char
acter that even Chief Evans, who as in
rotunda hall at the time, was at loss
to know where it came from. In a
| moment word was transmitted
| by telephone at the mayors
office and at the engine house,
| gas had occurred ct Fourth Wharf road,
otherwise known 90 Thirty fourth and
| Butler streets. and that there hsd been
serious loss of life, as well as great de-
struction of property. The details
which could be secured over the tele-
phone were TO the effect that the explo-
sion occurred in August Ruh's saloon
at No. 1851 Pennsylvania ave
nue., and that the adjoining
building had also been wrecked
by the explosion. The conclusion
created the widest excitement IN the
immediate vicinity and hundreds OF peo
pie gathered about, as the ruins had
taken fire and rumors were current thai
| q number 0f nara0na yzAyo hnriad On the
debris. Just few moments after the
occurrence a CiGIzen's line car passed in
front of the wrecked buildings, filled
with passengers, when second
explosion occurred and the Cal
was thrown from the trscE
BY the force of the upheavaI.
The CONSERVATION among the psssen
gers was more than panic und scarcely
one of the whole number escaped with.
out more or less injury. The driver
was blown from his position and so Sc
VerelY Injured that he may not recover
At tie same time pieces of timber anc
hurled In the air by the second
explosion. II caused havoc among
those who had gathered in thG
vicinity. The crowd had swelled until
It had reached between 200 and 800. Sew
ersl other eruptions followed and th'
number of houses embraced was increas
ed 70 ten or fifteen. At twenty minutes
J past - O'Clock signal that the FIRE haC
been extinguished was sent, but scarcely
ten minutes had elapsed until another
: alarm was sounded from the sam,
box. Eight additional steamers hurrieC
to the spot, not only to aid in extinguish
: ing the flames but to assist ia caring fo
the injured and aid in bunting for thost
; who were supposed to be buried unde
the buildings which had been involved
in the general destruction. In the ex
, element Immediately following tn
only names OF the injured ascertainet
were Gibson. the car driver: Angus
Horn, an iron worker and Finger.
baker. The injured were taken to tn
Office of ClaFk's Solar Iron works OF
ThiFty-fourth street.
The first explosion was occasioned b
the striking of match by Mar Snaui
J der in q saloon. There was inLd ex
/ pleeion and the building was shat. cred
Before the people croid recover 49, pos
session, there vas another explosion II
the cellar Of Morris saloon. Thu
third explosion occurred soon after
A large number of persons were serious
Iv injured. Nearly ali the hous with
in square were more ar lees shattered
The loss IS about $4,000. There il
much excitement. and a gang OF IneT
has been organized TO tear MP the gal
pipes.