The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-20
. AEGAS EXPLOSION
rn4T A1Mosp7 wnRcKED ATowN.
natural Gas 1Iaiai Ia shalrppsSurg, Pa, RI
pIeds and Set fire % Large BuildlnEs.
Tho lnesnsd PopuIaee WANT ttorsar
upthe Pipes, but are Prevented.

4 PITTSBURGH, jan. 19.-The fire which
occurred at the yesuyius Iron Works, a
shppsbufg, this morning, narrowly
escaped proving most disastrous con
aagratiSn, AS soon as the explosion oc
CURED, Word was sent to Pittsburgh and
Allegheny, asking for assistance, and
steamers Nos. land 8 from this city, and
the columbia and Ellsworth from ALE.
| gheny, were sentup. Before any definite
word as the conAagtation could be OBJ.
tanned, the widest and most startling
rumors reached Allegheny. The reports
in effect stated that an explosion Of
natural gas had occurred, and that the FIRE
had communicated TO the gas mains along
the streets, and that the gas was burning
| in all directions along the streets upon
which the pipes were laid. The tracks of
the West Penn railroad were said to be
threatened; and the greatest fear was
abroad among the people Of the town, lest
other andfmore dreaded results would fol-
low. Thereports had the effect OF Great
ing great excitement in both cities, and
quite aScrowd Of people left the West
Penn depot for Sharpsburg on the l2 :35
accommodation. }l
Arriving at the scene Of the fire, Il was
found that O terrific explosion OF natural
gas here occurred the store house OF the
mill company, setting fire to the building
and burning 1t to the ground in avery few
minutes. The store room was erected at
the north end of the ironfworks, and Join
ing them. The fire communicated with
the mill, and in q short time 1t was also in
flames, but the eprompt arrival OF the fire
companies from the city, togetherwith the
efficient work done by tie ssharpsburr
Hook and Ladder Company, soon OBJ.
tanned control OF the flames, and by noon
the fire had been extinguished with but
little Of the mill property destroyed. Hun
dreds Of excited people were standing
about the smoking ruins and discussing
the causes that led TO the explosion in the
store.room.
The facts Of the explosion are these
The Westinghouse Natural Gas Company
some time ago laid pipe along Main
street, and under the tracks Of the West
Penn road. The main was laid only q
few feet in front of the mill property. At
NJ ~ I,asa 49,, = -.
Mus s.:.aI sliese ws,g ieanDseu anu city suo.
slisuta. ~ ~, oa Fti9ay iass ~ was iet now
ineo the nala, IN eoinlng around around tne
nena tsl VI tae sllses' IN Ionl ,oI tne mili,
siVts leuss " plPe wete W., ana " Was
tns " tliese llIal IIS 1s, cause pi the
Iouole tiiis morning WI. ING main was
sei,es .n o. leaks airSst tne e1ete DISTANCE
aiouha tiie oeta; tae esoaplng gas caugnt
nIs T. s'ns sVs way .nis inolning anu people
issia,ng near a..ss saw ,e9 S9hnhuoas name
~. pa ss',,Se MY " ~ 9, more,
aioIs w tle iine. ina1 nir. Y. a, feia, tae man
M chatge ~ .ne cSti laiiy slerei IAN OUT oi
NY ssels Eaail " l9ak " tne name. AZ
snht M st1ns pas .eltilc eAp.osioh occurred
anu Mr tseeo was l piowtis nan way across
tis Ssa ssfees. ta... an, -. A.
INC iorce 9L me the sA Apios!on hfoke tne
gas gas . IN nesf!Ys q. gu las buildings within
w, \! = sqtalsol NY mn, a; ". alnson
&S3o;;s }ust ;oPpos.te ana tne Farmers
!sss = ts nealtlS every
pau u slAIIs 9foksh , guy. haLnsey & o9.s .is
aIus ssote naa iyttwo nS panes Oh giass leit
~ ~ tne VINO! Wnoie IIont. me ehtire front el
ei21tneaa NY .i s19ie L9oli Was 9ioWh out,
anu anu .ne ehuie puiipnH seemed 20 DC on
ts St iheu,aseiy m.s1 w eSPeson, aon
L.n,' thS i9ss Mill Ieactl apous slo,VVV u! OF
SWeArlnRen q McIAnulABS agency. Ine