The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-28
Serious Gas Explosion on Wsybosset
Street This Hornins.
JATI7oR BLOWN ACROSS ROOM,
He Inhaled the Gas aud Was Also Fright
fally Burnsd-The Physicians Arc Not
Csrsaia WHISTLER or Not ne wnI Re
esvsr-rhs Cause.

A terrific explosion OF Illuminating gas
occurred in the building at the corner
OF Weybosset and Richmond streets
nt . late hour this morning,
domolishing several rooms in the struc-
turs and burning one man 80 severely
that death II expected to result.
The scene of the explosion was crowded
BY hundreds of excited spectators
immsdiatsly after the accident.
The several rooms were literally wrecked
By the force OF the explosion and huge
fragments OF partitions and furniture in
moro or less stages Of demolition, were
piled promiscuously about the rooms.
IN the center OF the floor was the pros
trate form Of the victim, whose dis
figured features bore mute testimony Of
the awful calamity which had befallen
him.
The majority of the windows were blown
clean out and fragments OF glass strewed
the sidewalk on al sides. The injured
man WAS cared for and this afternoon was
ablo - make his statement.
Ia the upper portion of the new build
ing at the corner Of Wey bosset and Rich
mond streets f. located Columbia hall.
ana receptions and an occasional
Meeting Of . lodge. The victim of
tho explosion, Isaac Potter, is janitor
of the building and at 10:45 o'clock this
morning he started to make tour OF
the pssmises The hall was use d
last night and tho janitor went TO clean
it and the adjoining rooms. He proceed.
"a 70 the upper door. and az the rooms
are rather darn. he stopped and lighted
taper.
Potter went through one room and
found things all right and then started
into the ANAL reception room just Oh the
hall.
A he opsnsd the door of the
reception. the light which he
carried flickered. and Potter
was almost overpowsred by rush Of
RaA Before he had time
TO thinKs much less act,
the gas In the room tgnitsd aud terrific
explosion followed, blowing out the
windows In the adjoining rooms.
Doors Blown on.
The door was blown from its hinges
and . door In the toilet room was also
blown down. Furniture and fragments
OF plastering were hurled through the
Mr.. Pottar was overcome by the shock
and became partially unconscious. He
WAS found standing In the centre of the
roam by = man namsds Brown, who
chanced to b the frst man to penetrate
the building.
A. soon - Mr.. Brown entered Potter
fall - the floor uuconcioua He was
frt3btfully burned about tho face, neck
NJ ~vxA a
that he was dead. DIR. Harvey
was summoned and attended him. He
found that life was not extinct and did
partially succeeded. He found large
handed prompt attention.
s Hsd INHALED Gas.
Bcoides the terrible burns Mr.. Potter
had inhaled . sufficient quantity Of the
knp to make his recovery doubtful.
The injured man was taken to his home
at 1<o lockwood street and is still in the
ha&dG ef phSsictkns
Th3 bdowSy were blown clear across
tho st&bet epd,Oue sash was dashed vio-
lently sgaipst the store ofAnthony&Cow- of
'oll 6ppopites A shower Of broken glass
opfinhod ths people passing and added
1ncrpas6d bQrfof to the occasion.
ENdshtly sofne ope left the gas escap-
Ing st . full heAd In the reception room
Last night The room being closed
tightly the gas. had sccum mulated in sum-
cisnt pua1tittss to explode the moment
the dQ0t was opsned. IL II
my6oery HthAs Potter was not
S)oyh into etlrpity. Ho was. however,
as hat been ascsrtsined later.
hurled violently across the hall
and had just entered the room In dazcd
oond1tion to zee what damage had been
done. when Mr.. Brown appeared.
The physioians, while hopeful OF his re-
ooyory, ere still doubtful.