The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-01-31
BLOWN 81 TO ATOMS.
A Terrific Natural Uas 81:
plosion in Columbus Wrecks
Two Houses.
Six People Killed and Over a
Score Receive Serious
Injuries.

coLunDrs, Ohio, Special There il ascene
OF death aud destruction in this city to-
night whose horrible features and sickening
details are surpassed only by the Johnstown
food. Never in the history Of Ohio has
such dreadful disaster occurred as that
which sent thrills of horror through
the thousands who witnessed 1t to-
night. A double explosion occurred
and II dealt out death with dual force.
A few moments after o'clock an alarm OF
fire sounded calling out the entire depart
ment. The streets were thronged with the
Thousands of toilers who were returning to
their homes from workshops and factories.
and quickly spread the news that q fright
full calamity had happened in the southern
part Of the city. The streets leading to that
section were soon crowded with people
going to the scene. An explosion
had occurred at the double resi-
dence of Michael Bowers and John
Marriott at the corner of Wall and
Noble alleys. The cause of the calamity
was an accumulation 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 occupied by
Marriott and Powers is one Of the mains
through which the commodity is furnished
to the public. Tho pipes had leaked and
che explosive fuel had found Its way
through fssures in the ground to the cellar
which was the scat of tho horror. It he
came ignited In some unknown manner
and exploded with terrible force, wrecking
the building and filling the air with debris.
Mrs. Marriott was blown out of the house
and . man named Goulding, who was
standing near the structure. was
BLOWN ACROSS THE STREET.
Mrs. Marriott was carried across tho street
and into the residence of William James.
Tho house where the injured lay was soon
crowded with people. attracted by the acci-
dent, and 1t was soon necessary to close the
doors that no more might enter. Suddenly
the air was rent by tremendous explosion
which made the earth quake and filled tho
air with flying timbers, bricks and debris
Of all kinds. The house in which lay
Mrs. Marriott had been blown to atoms and
Its occupants buried beneath the wreck.
Hundreds of spectators who lined the side
walks were knocked down by the shock and
laid powerless. Then. to cap the climax,
the fire department ladder trucks became
frenzied by the explosion and dashed away
into the crowd, carrying death in their
wake. They ran over and injured scores of
people. A beautiful little babe was knocked
from Its mothers arms and, falling beneath
the merciless wheels of the vehicle, was
crushed to death before her eyes.
Guided by the cries and moans of the man-
gled and dying, men grol,ed in the dark
ness, pulling out dead body here, man.
sled, yet living, form there and conveying
women and children gathered around the
PROSTATE forms. and blood-curdling shrieks
made the awful scene more revolving, as
friends recognized friends injured or dead;
parents found their mutilated children and
vice versa. 1t required several hours to re-
move all the dead and injured from the
ruins. and It is not yet known who or how
many sro vicfima EO1lOwinv "a tho 1;st nj