New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-25
BURIED IN a MASS OF RUINS.
TWO HOUSES BLOWN UP WITH NATURAL
GAS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO.
THERE WERE NO PIPES FROM THE MAIN BUT
THE GAS FOUND ITS WAY THROUGH THE
EARTH-THREE BODIES RECOVERED
MANY PERSONS HURT.

MANY PERSONS HURT.
Columbus. Ohio Jan. 24.-"The Evening Dispatch, y
in an extra edition. says few minutes after p. m.
an alarm of fire from High and Main SITS. called the
Fire Department out The news spread that there had
been natural gas explosion IN a twO-story dwelling
at the south OF Wall and Noble alleys, in the
centre OF the block bounded by High and Front and
Main and Mound SITS. Patrol No. l the scene.
but no rope was stretched and the people crowded by
hundreds into the narrow alley and pushed up close
to the house The cries of injured people within
could be plainly heard. Means and shreks mingled
with the hoarse calls of the remen. the clang of tho
alarm bells the engines and the murmurs Of the
crowd. whisper ran through the thronS that
natural gas main east and west through Noble
Alley but this followed by that the blaze
was due to gasoline explosion in the house and the
people did not heed the warning.
The fire was almost under control; the people were
standing by laughing and talking; lad was proudly
holding team Of Fire Department horses I'm the alley,
a patrol wagon was standing idly near the scene The
alley crowded with lockers on, many Of whom were
turning to 90 home. At this moment terrific ex-
plosion rent the air. sheet Of flame burst from
tho building at the northwest corner Of Noble and
Wall alleys, a OF bricks, beams and stone that
thirty seconds before had been twOstory brick
buildng. flying with terrific force through the
air The people fed shrekng in all directions, while
the alley was Instantly covered with wreckage, from
which the moans OF buried people came. Pallid.
trembling women tottercd and across the alley
and streets, moaning and Shrieking. Men, wounded
and bleeding staggered from among the ruins. y
woman with her clothes in flames, barchcadcd and
frcnzcd, shrckng from the house across the
alley. 4 fireman. who held the nozzle Of a hose.
SAW her danger and turned the stream her 1t
knocked her down. but saved her life, cXtinguiahinS
the flames. She was lifted from the ground and
hurried into ncghborns house. Every inch Of the
clothing had burned from her down to her waist
The explosion was due t. accumulation Of
natural gas In the cellar Of the house occupied by
Michael Bowers and Mr. Marriott. No natural gas
pipe, we're ever put into the house. but natural Gas
main IN Noblc Alley leaked. The ground was frozen
and the "A, entered the cellar. IL has OdOr. and
u, presence could not be detected. IL saturated tho
buiIdng,. The side of the house was blown out and
the roof turned inside out hung from the top Of tho
housc to the yard below. ON the north side Of the
alley tie gas destroyed the house occupied by
Edward; Otstot and Mr.. James Everything
va, blotn TO chips. force Of wOrkmcn AT work for
A week could not reduce the house to kndlmg wood
50 thoroughly a. did this explosion. The force Of
thc explosion was upward. bricks. doors. window
,ashc,. lathiug siding. ETC., were piled In heap all
about the bulldng and only dozen feet from IT,
The house shot up and parted Ike piece Of fire
works The mystery was how the flame passed from
one cellar to the other without having a. much as
disturbed a brick or stone on the roadway.
The work Of getting out the dead and caring for
the wounded has been attended with great excite
mcnt Tho casualties far 40 known. are;