Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-29
A BARREL OF GASOLINE
AND A BOY WITH A MATCH PROVIDE A
HORROR.

Two Persons Killed and About 100
Injured More or Less-The Panic After
the Expiosion-WiId Winds, Hail and
Rain Fill Up "a Big Measure of Havoc
Great Destruction Wrought.
BALTIMORE, May % A special to The Sun
from Frederick, Md, says: A terrible acct
dent occurred last evening from the
effects of an explosion of bar
rel of gasoline in the cellar of the
grocery store of Charles f. Zellers, cor
ner of Market and South streets. Two Ter-
sons were killed, and from ninety to 100 in
jured Mr. Zellers at O'Clock sent boy
into his cellar to tap barrel of gasoline. On
account of the darkness the boy struck a
match to light lantern. AS he did so the
gas that had accumulated in the cellar ig-
nited, and the boy rushed up stairs crying
fire. A public alarm was quickly given, and
in few minutes the several fire companies
were ON the spot. Dense volumes of smoke
rolled out of the cellar but the firemen got
actively to work, and were just about ready
to throw II stream of water upon the flames
when IA terrific explosion of gasoline oc-
Cured The large and heavy plate glass
windows were shivercd and the small pieces
were sent with great force across the street.
At the same time the whole brick front of
outward with loud crash, followed by the
almost entire demolition of the warehouse
and back building of the establishment.
e, In an instant afterward the most agonizing
shrieks and screams were heard, and the hun
dreds of people who had gathered to see the
fire ran in every direction: 1t was soon
learned what a terribly sickening work had
been done. Many of those who a few min
utes before had left their homes to stay the
flames were now returning with their faces,
heads and arms either terribly burned or
covered with blood. Some walked alone,
some were led, while others were car
ried upon stretchers into the yards and resi-
dences near by All the physicians and sur
geons in the city were soon on the ground
dressing the wounds of the injured and the
priests of the Novitiate gave absolution and
spiritual comfort to those Of their flocks The
scene was sckening. Women and children
rushed TO and fro wringing their hands. cry
ing and imploring bystanders to tell them
whether their fathers, brothers. or sons were
among the injured. The street for a square
in several directions presented the appear
ance of battlefield.
1t is impossible at this time to obtain list
of the injured, but so far as obtainabe the
names are as follows:
Killed-Charles Poole, boy aged Il; Win.
lam Scocum, colored
Seriously injured-John T. Moore, Lewis
H. Doll, Harry Barnes, Peyton Brown,
Charles Houck, Edward Houck, William
Hahn George OFT.
Injured-not known how badly-Willam
Miles, Charles Wineberg, Jacob Mussbaum,
Charles Schroedel Augustus Kolb, George
Blumendauer, George Green, George Pace
ley, Luther Frazier, Ben F. Reich, William
Dansberger, Frank Grouse, Daniel Miller,
Samuel Walling, Sandy Hoffman, Fritchie
Hauer, Edward Diehl, Grayson Urner;
Charles Eader, Baltimore & Ohio ticket
agent; Charles B, Fox, Brady Clabaugh;
William B. Storm, teller of the Central bank;
William Castle, Burke Dexter Ingomar
Schleigh, William Lehberz, William Harri-
son, Jacob Dudesman, Chief of Police August
Harway, Milton Woodward, Albert King,
Lucien Webb, Rudolph Grouse, Ed Killian,
Roy McCardell, William McCleery, August
Ill ,-te I