Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-22
THREE LIVES LOST.
Building Wrecked by Gas
Explosion at New Haven.
Fire Results and Three Workmen
Meet Death in the Flames.
Mary 0lhrs Escaoe--toss $500. OOO-ln-
sutabce Is Probably Void.

New Haven. Ct.-JAn. 2l-The build
ing ON Crown street, opposite Orange.
occupied by English x Merrick and two
other firms was destroyed ny FIRE this
morning, which started from an explo-
sion. and as "a direct result, three lives
We're lost. The killed are
Jos. G Hauser, machinst, aged 3S, in
stantly killed
j. L. Toof, aged 10 burned to death,
body almost unreCognilahls
Harbona stevens, aged 81, burned to
death, identified by papers in pockets.
About 1899. this morning Frank z,
Phlcgar, Sr., machine i0bber, was ex
pcrimenting with acetylcne gas in his
shop on the second floor Of the building
Around him were corps Of assistants.
1t IS said that phlcaar was working
upon some sort Of a regulator TO control!
the delivery Of gas from he steel cylinders
in which 1t is kept At high pressure. some
times u high AZ 1900 pounds to the square
inch. Definite knowledge as to the con-
ditions Of the experiment cannot he had,
since the Pnicgars positively refuse to
talk, tonight, beyond acknowledging the
experiment,
1t is known that when the explosion
occurred, the PhlegarS, father and son.
and five men were working about a oy lin
der Of the gas One OF the men Jos
Hauser. q tool maker, was killed hy
the explosion. Charles Fox. an engineer.
himself cat and bleeding, carried Haueers
body out of the building which was
rapidly being cnyeloped in flames. Frank
Phle-Ar ST., was burned ard cut
The force Of the explosion tore down the
ceiling, and when the department came
and belore water was put 90 The fire which
resulted a second explosion was heard
This was doubtless caused by small tube
Of Ess.
When the explosion occurred. there were
30 persons in the building and a mad rush
occurred Happily all the employees
escaped except the three mentioned. 1t Is
said that Toof ana Stevens. both employed
by +. j. Toof, remained behind to lock
the safe and secure some valuable papers.
soon alter the fire broke Uut, stevens
WAS seen a a window and was told 10
wait a moment and a ladder would he
sent. He answered thS5 be would get
some more things from the desk. ana
throwing cat some houks went away from
lie window. lie was not Sscn again. How
FOOT met his fate is NOT known. but he
was found very near Mr. Stevens body.
The losses and instances: English 4
Mcrsick. carriage hardware, first floor.
loss. $50, o0u; Insurance, s56O@u. Frank
p Phlegar, jobhing lnachinisJ, second
floor loss. $50. 600 insurance 50, COO
Edwin !. Tool. sewing machine attach
ments third floor, Lose El0,Uea; insur
ance $50, 0o0. The building. Owned BY
edwin +. Mcrrick, was valued al $i5 COO
and was insured for tLat sum.
Ii is altogether within the bounds Of
possibility that all Of the Insurance poll
cies may be subject to contest, aud, in
decd, may bo inyalidatrd 1t seems that
the insurance companies regard acetylere
gas and the materials which cuter into its
MANUFACTURED in the same light as they do
gasoline. ard DO not permit gas made OF
or used in any insured building without
special permit.
The insurance agents WHO placed the
policies ON the burned building said, to
night, hat no such permits had been is
sued by them. Hauscr and Toof wera
married and leave families