St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-05
Terrible Explosion of Gas.
Several People Killed and Many Injured

Several People Killed and Many Injured.
The most terrible of long series of
natural gas explosions stunned Pitts
burg, Pa, Saturday morning. 1t was
caused by a leaky main and its three
separate shocks killed two persons out
right, fatally injured three others,
bnrned and cut - more and did 500
900 damage to buildings. The eXplo-
siOns occurred in the Iron City hotel, IL
saloon on Thirty third street, run by
George Morris, IA low tramp building,
about II by 30, and occupied beside by
his family, bedrooms being Just above
the bar-room Mrs. Hammersdoerfer's
meat-shop 1t similar building adjoin-
ing, was George Muelier's saloon,
straight across the street. The first
blast came from Mrs. Hnmmersdoer-
fer's place and started the people
about, and they came at once from all
sides to inquire the cause. They had
reached the corner, when from MOrris's
saloon came another explosion, ter
rifle i'll force, followed by Il still loud
er one from Mueller's. The entire
first floor of the last building was blown
up and the flames burst out i'll a
volume.
MIS-. i1dilinlt'TStOelltl SenJ ncf SIS
ter Mary Smolder, 20, into the cellar
to get "a basket, about III o'clock. Be
ing without Il lamp, she struck match
on the cellar wall, and instantly the
accumulated gas exploded, recdiug the
walls and floor and fiinging the pro-
prietress across the shop. Before the
people had discovered the cause of the
shower of glass, plaster and stones, or
ls.,l 20
the interior of Morris's saloon had been
wrecked by the second blast. Mrs.
Morris, who was getting dinner ready,
was thrown against door and badly
bruised: her little baby was blown
through window and more or less
cut and bruised. Morris himself, who
was blown ont of bed, made Il dash
for his money-draw and hurried
down stairs. The crowd Of men in the
bar-rOOm were tossed about like ten
pins. When the bar-keeper came to
his senses, he found himself kneeling
on the bar. By this time Mrs. Ham
merSdOerfer found her sister and pull
ed her up from the cellar. Her little
daughter, Lizzie, was covered by the
falling debris and was badly cut up
about the head and breast. Charles
Ruth, bar-keeper i'll Mueller's saloon,
heard the first report and ran to the
deOr to see what was the matter. Just
as lie got to the door the third explo-
sion came. Before Ruth could get ont
on the pavement to see what had hap
pened the whole of the contents of the
saloon, bar, plastering, barrels and
beams were blown forward, and no was
for a moment buried i'll the runs. At
the time OF the explosion Anna Mueller
daughter of the owner of the place,
and the cook, Lizzie Galuith, were in
the bar-room, rs well AIS DR.. Xiegler of
Allegheny, aud Jack Stein, mill
worker. Miss Mueller was just going
down into the cellar as the explosion
took place. She fell into the cellar
way and caught by her feet, where she
hung, screaming with terror. Ruth
heard her screams aud running into
the burning room, made his way
through the rubbish and rescued her
Tue cook and DIR. Sttinhardc were
stunned, and Jack Stein lived but Il
few moments.
This is II list Of the victims, several
OF the injured being near death Jack
Stein, died from his Injuries unknown
girl, killed /; George LINER, eye cut
and left eye blown out /; Melia Oxen
bart, thrown into the gutter and badly
injured Internally; George Bernhard,
burned about the head and otherwise
badly hurt; Willie Patton, cnt. on the
head and skull fractured; Mrs. Morris,
blown against the door III the cellar
next to the bnildipg in which the -cx-
pfosion first occurred, badly hurt
Annie Mueller, the SALOON Keepers
daughter, badly cut about The face aud
head George Gibson, car-driver.
Knocked off the ear aud badly hurt
Nicholas Derfler, driver, badly cut on
face; George Hermass,lorfer, cut by
flying glass an the head !. Mrs. Dr. /
Evans, cut by plate glass in the face, i,
wounded Dr.: .Steinfardt /
of Allegheny, blown iito the air, Jaw |
badly eat William. Coehrane. conduc-4
tor Citizens. line, knocked Oft car by IA /
beer keg aud legs broken George /
Morris, barkeeper at Mueller's saloon. |
badly cut and leg broken; 6. Horn, |
cut and burned abont the head, not Sc (.
riously hart Lizzie SInolder, probably I
fatal injuries; Lizzie HaiDnersdeerfer. I