The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-01-29

Three Terrible Accidents at coiun1-
bus Thursday.

death 3Dl ttSttuStitH III thfo ct11 tt-iA6'ttf
whose horrible featisres and sickening details
are surpassed only BY the Johnsiown food.
Never in the history Of Ohio has such a
dreadful disaster occurred as that which sent
thrills of horror through the thousands who
witnessed il tonight A double explosion
occurred, and il dealt out destruction with
dual force.
A few minutes after 5 o'clock an alarm of
fire sounded, calling out the entire depart
ment The streets were thrunged with the
thousands Of toilsrs who were returning TO
theis homes ftom workshops and factories,
and they quickly spread the news that
ffightfnl calamity had happened in the
southern part of the city. The streets lead
ing to that place were soon crowded with
people going to the scene. Their presence
there heaped horror upon horror, as will be
seen later on. An explosion had occurred
at the double residence of Messrs. Michael
Bowers and John Marriott. al the corner of
Wall and Noble alleys.
CAUSED BY NATURAL GAS.
The cause Of the calamity was an accumu-
lation of natural gas in the cellar Of the
house referred TO. The city has recently
been supplied with natural gas, and leading
past the house of Marriott and Bowers is
one of the mains through which the fuid is
furnished TO the public. The pipes had
leaked and the explosive fuel had found its
way through assures in the ground to the
cellar which was the seat Of the horror. II
became ignited in some unknown manner
the building and filling the air with debris.
Mrs Marriott was blown out Of the house,
and man named Goulding. who was stand
ing near the structure, was blown across the
street. Mrs Marriott was carried across the
street into the residence of William James.
Dr. Wissinger, prominent physician, was
called to attend her injuries. The house
where the injured lady lay was soon crowd
ed with people attracted by the accident,
and ii was soon necessary to close the doors
that no more might enter.
NOT A WORD or WARNING.
Little knew those scores of spectators hud-
died around the sufferer that they were
standing in death trap, which was on the
verge of carrying them into eternity. Sud
denly the air was rent by a thunderous ex-
plosion, which made the earth quake and
filed the air with flying timbers, bricks
and debris of all kinds Darkness ensued,
and then death like stiffness reigned for
few moments 1t was broken by shrieks
and death groans. The house in which lay
blown to atoms and its occupants buried
beneath the wreck. Hundreds of spectators
who lined the sidewalk we're knocked vio-
lently down by the shock and laid power
less.
STILL ANOTHER HORROR.
Then to cap the climax, team OF spirited
horses attached to one of the fire department
trucks became terrified by the explosion,
and dashed away into the street. carrying
death in their wake. They ran over and in
jured scores of people. A beautiful little
babe was knocked from its mothers arms,
and falling beneath the wheels of the vehicle
was crushed to death.
HEARTREsDISG SCENES.
As soon as the maddened steeds had dis
appeared in the darkness, many of the spec
tators and fIemen who had been uninjured
by either of the horrors. turned their atten-
ton 10 digging out the persons buried be-
meath the ruins of the house. Guild d by
the cries and mosns of the mangled and dy-
ing, men groped in the darkness, pulling out
dead body here, a mangled yet living form
there, and conveying them 10 resting places.
Groups of men, women and children gather
ed arounded the PROSTATE forms, and blood
curdling shreks made the awful scene more
revolving, as friends recognised friends in
iured or dead parents found their mutilated
children and vice versa. II required several
hours TO remove all the dead and injured
from the ruins, and it is not yet known who
and how many are the victims.
The houses for several blocks around the
some Of the explosion have been turned in
TO hospitals, wLcre many are being.cared for.
Miss Belle Smith, who was badly injured,
had gone into the doomed house just prior
10 the explosion. Her face was badly bruis-
Ell and she was suffering from many bruises
about the body. She was almost complete
ly buried in the debris and had to be dug
out. The doctors pronounce her injuries
serious, but think she will recover. Elmer
Gates, young man, was standing opposite
the house when the second explosion occur
red, and was struck by missile which broke
his leg.
young man named Meshlider, who is a
and shocked.
Pet Merritt, lG year old girl, was severe
ly burned about the shoulders and chest.
When she reached the street she was almost
naked Her life was saved by turning a
STRAIN Of water on her.
STORIES OF SPECTATORS.
DR.. T. X. wissinger was in the James
house when he was hurt He was attending
a patient injured at the other place when
the second explosion occurred. He says he
suddenly saw the flames creeping along the
floor and Immediately threw himself under
a table and placed his hands over his face
to shield his eyes. Benjamin Morgan, also
a spectator, was badly injured. He was
knocked down by one of the hose carts in
the general rush for safety after the first ex-
plosion, and then was run over by the mad
crowd. Morgan lives at Shawnee and was
a delegate 10 the miners convention, which
has been in session here He is thought to
be internally injured.
Theodore Shouting was watching the fire
across the street when the explosion occur
red The blaze and falling debris frightened
the horses OF hose cart, which wheeled
and ran onto the pavement. The gentleman
was knocked down and had one leg broken
in two places.
Tom Doyle, saloon porter. was burned
in a most horrible manner. When the i'm
prompiu bandages were removed from his
hands the flesh dropped off in many places,
leaving his bones exposed. Police officer
Lynsky was in the house at the time it fell
and was badly injured The scenes at the
morgue are ghas;ly. The remains of those
killed are cut and burned almost beyond
recognition.
Peter Marriott, lamp lighter. occupied
one part of an adjoining house, which was
wrecked He has four children, and all Of
them we're badly injured. Another part Of
the house was occupied by widow, who
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