Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-19
FOUND THE LEAK.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF NATURAL Gas At
PINDLLY, OHIO.
A Servant Girl Steps On Match and Ignilss
the Gas-Two Persons Killed and Nan
Der Seriously Inlursd-Ihs Bailting
Almost Totally Wrecked.

FINDLAY. o., January ls.-The first
great disaster Findlay has ever exper-
fenced from the use OF natural gas 0c-
CURED shortly before two o'clock this
afternoon. While the guests Of the
Hotel Marvin were waiting 10 be- sum-
moned to dinner this morning &, was
discovered that gas was escaping from
leaking pipe somewhere In the dining
room, and Mr.. Marvin, the owner OF the
building, with three plumbers spent the
entire forenoon trying 10 locate the
leak. About ten o'clock they entered
chamber underneath the dining room
and found such an accumulation OF
gas that they could not breathe. and
it was suggested that hole
be sawed through the floor into
the dining room in Order 20 obtain fresh
air. This was done, and just as the
hole was made. one OF the dining room
girls, who was sweeping the nOor,
stepped upon a match, and In an in-
slant an explosion occurred. which not
only wrecked the building. but killed
two girls and manned and injured
dozen other employees. The force of
the explosion was so great that it blew
out the flame Of the ignited gas. and no
fire followed the awful ruin which the
shock caused
The whole city rocked as II in an earth
quake by the conclusion. and an The
windows on the square were demolished.
while the wreck in the hotel building
was all but complete, the only rooms in
the house escaping destruction being the
parlOrs aud the office. Had the eXpl0-
sion occurred ten minutes later the loss
OF life would baye been frightiul. a.
nearly hundred people were waiting
in the rooms TO be called 10 dinner. and
as matter OF fact, one of
the clerks, Frank Poundstonc.
was on his way 90 make
the announcement when the explosion
occurred. and he was caught In the fall
ing debris, he being one OF the pain
fully injured. When the work of
removing the dead and rescuIng the
dying was begun. it was found that
Katie Walters, waitress, had been
killed outright. Ella Johnson, a dining
room girl, was found alive under mas,
OF brick and mortar, but she died short
ly after being carried 20 place 0l
safety. Kate Rooney, another dining
room girl, was also fatally injured. but
Is still alive. Frank Poundstone, clerk,
is painfully bruised. but will recover
AnSon Marvin. owner Of the building,
is probably fatally injured, as a great
deal OF the flame from the gas was in-
hailed
Albert French, porter NJ the hotel,
cut on the neck aud head. but Will &c.
cover
Frank Andrews, one Of the proprie-
tors, had his right eye Knocked out.
and seriously burned about the face and
throat.
Charles Graves. Philip We'll, and Jack
Cahill, the plumbers, were painfully
shocked aud stunned, but will soon be
themselves again.
The financial loss q will be about
S95. 900 on the building aud >l0.ooo 600
the furniture. all fully covered hy boz
surancc. The excitement throughout
the city over this catastrophe ha, never
been eQualled since Finday became
At @ o'clock tonight another eXplO.
sion occurred in the same place as the
one this afternoon, setting fire to The
already wrecked and badly demolished
dining room Of the Marvin House. The
fire department was quickly summoned,
and more serious damage was ayorted.
The gas from the main pipe has finally
been turned of.