Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-08
A BAD EXPLOSION.
heath and Destruction Follow n Gas Ex'
pIosion in PIttEburg.

pIosion in PittSburgs
PrTrsBURG, PA, January by an ex-
blosion of gas this morning, house No. 1910
Sarah street, South Side. was wrecked,
three persons killed and several injured.
The list OF the killed is as follows: Thomas
Duffy, aged IS, ironworker; Mrs. Sophia
Duffy, aged So; daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs
Duffy, aged two years.
Iniured-Wm. Duffy, aged z, burned and
hurt by bricks; VIM Harris, ironworker,
severely burned; Mrs. Harris, hurt by wall
falling; child of Mrs. Harris, burned and
severely bruised.
The explosion occurred in the three story
brick house at No. 1910 Sarah street, which
was Jointly occupied by the families oil
Thomas Duffy and VIM. Harris. The latter
family occupied three rooms on the third
floor Harris goes TO work at O'CLOCK. de
arose shortly after six, leaving his wife and
children in bed, and taking the scuttle In
one hand and lighted lamp IN the other,
started down stairs TO the cellar Tor coal.
The house was closed at the time, as the
Duffy family was yet in bed. Harris
thought ne recognized smell Of gas, but
was not alarmed, not thinking OF any dan
ger. He opened the cellar door and started
slowly down the steps trying to shield the
lamp from fear that stronger gust Oh air
rushing up the stairs into the warmer at
mosphere above might blow out the light.
Harris reached the bottom steps, Wnen
suddenly the very air seemed turned into
fire, which for a moment blinded him and
caused intense pain. At the same time ne
felt himself caught up and hurled half way
up the steps, while his lighted lamp was
shattered against post. The nelgnoor-
hood was shaken then by the terrific ex-
plosion, and the few persons on the street
l. 41f@ 80. q fhan
roof fell in followed by the right wall.
The upper floor was crushed in and fell,
carving it TO the first which had, and this
alone saved Harris life. Meanwhile the
harvest of death had been awfully for the
Duffy family and was wiped out OF exls-
tence, save the young son, and he may die.
The second floor, the brick wall and the
room simply crushed the ceiling as though
it was paper, and sleeping calmly In their
beds, Thomas Duffy, his wife and the face
in the cradle by her side were awakened
only to be crushed and buried in the ruins.
A policeman passing sent in an alarm at
once and soon large force Of men were
placed at work to rescue the imprisoned in
mates. Mrs Harris and her child were
found easily and taken out. They were
cut and badly frightened. VIM. Harris
was taken out easily but it took twenty
five minutes to dig to where the Dutfy's
were imprisoned. They were alive when
reached, but died as they were being taken
out.
The house in which the explosion oc-
Cured is a double brick. One-half is oc-
cupied by the family of Charles Reid, and
the members were asleep. They also were
hurled from their beds, and Mr. Reid said
ne had scarcely fallen on the floor when
the explosions occurred in rapid success
sion, and the entire house threatened to
collapse. There was NEITHER natural nor
Illuminating gas in the house, and 1T is
supposed that the gas leaked into the eel
lar from one Of the large mains on the
streets. The loss is $500.