Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-21
GAS EXPLOSION.
A Building in nAlleghmy City Wrecked
and Burned.
ANATURAL GAS LEAK THE CAUSE,
Pour People Badly Burned by The Explosion and
100000 Worth Of Property Consumed in th.
Fire That POllowsd-HOns Of the Injured -
Will Dis-Ths Gas Bad Been Lsak,
ing Some DAyL

PTTTsBURG, PA, October 20.-A ter
rife natural gas explosion occurred In
Allegheny this morning. The entire
front of George w. Snaman's big car
pet store. on Federal street, was blown
out, and four persons seriously injured.
Those injured are: George w. Suamsn,
owner OF the store, badly burned about
the head, face and arms; F. G.. Hillard,
employee Of the Allegheny Heating
Company, burned about the bead, face
and hands; Mrs. William Young, South
Diamond, burned about the hands.
The explosion occurred few minutes
before eleven o'clock and was followed
by disastrous fire which entirely de-
stroyed the building, including the
large stock Of wall paper and carpets
which Mr.. Snaman carried.
The explosion was caused by a gas
leak in the cellar. Mr.. Snaman tele-
phoned to the Allegheny Heating Com
pany that the gas was leaking in the
building this morning, and Mr.. Hilliard
was sent over to fix it. He and Mr.. Sna-
man went to the cellar to make an in
vestigatlon. The gas inspector struck
a match and the explosion was instan-
taneouS.
The shock of the explosion was felt
in the entire block; the whole front OF
the building was blown out and roll OF
carpet standing in one Of the front win
dows was blown into the middle OF the
street.
In few minutes the whole building,
five stories high, was mass Of flames.
II is doubtful II the fire department
would have been able to save the build
ing and stock had they been right there
when the explosion occurred, so rapid
was the spread of the flames.
Mr.. Snaman and the gas inspector
rushed out of the front Of the building
with their clothing on fire, while the
majority of the employees escaped
through the rear door into Pine alley.
Constable Lang, Of the market house,
rushed over and met Mr.. Snaman, was
also there and the two soon eXtinguished
the fire in Mr., Snaman's clothing, and
his brother Henry hurried him off to the
Allegheny General Hospital.
Miss Minnie Matthews, the cashier,
was at her desk near the elevator. She
was knocked down by the force OF the
explosion but regained. her feet at once
and ran out into the alley.
A. w. Lease had charge Of the wall
paper department ON the third floor.
He was busy waiting on two lady Gus
toners when the explosion occurred.
He says he helped one OF the ladies
down stairs, but does not know how the
other one escaped, as he saw nothing
more of her after they all made a rush
for the elevator.
The elevaor boy deserted his post at
once, and those on the upper floors had
TO come down by the way 81 the stairs,
which, fortunately, were In the rear OF
the building.
Miss Ella Agy was on top or fifth
floor. Before she reached the ground
floor the whole lower part Of the build
ing was in flames, and she ran out
through the fire TO the alley, being
burned about the head and face in do
/ ing so.
During the excitement Of the fire a
rumor was started that Howard Bovard,
a clerk, was in the building. His friends
rushed madly around in their efforts to
get any intelligence Of him, and he was
finally found on the opposite side OF the
street, calmly watching the fire. He was
not in the building when the explosion
occurred, being the first time he was out
in long time at II o'clock.
The total loss will amount to about
SlOO, ,OtO, partially insured.