The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-07
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
the PETERSBURG CLUB RENT .....
SHIkEN NJ fSCtPftG G.iS.
The Floors We're Torn Up. the Ceiling
Wrecked and Glass Blown Across the
street Two Men Hurt.

PETERSBURG, VA. Jan. 6.-Gpcc'ai-
Those residing In the ncishboiaood %
the handsome four-story brick building
on Sycamore street. occupied hy 'n.
Petersburg Club were startled ABOUT
hslg-past nine O'Clock this morning ny
= loud and terrific explosion. which oc-
CURED in one OF the rooms on the south
side of the second floor OF the build
ing
IL appear; that about The hour indicat-
cd William hivcs ana Arthur POINTER
Jr.. the two coiOrcd porters. who were
getting ready 10 clean up the mouse
smclt escaping gas. and at once pro-
cscdcd 10 ascertain where the leak was.
The club have their quarters lighted by
electric light but In the building are
numrer Of Cas burners. which can De
used when wanted. The gas can be turn
ed on and on as occasion may require
from the metre. instead OF from the
street.
On last Saturday night which was a
bitter cold one. a gas-stOvc was placed
in the water closet 10 keep the water
PIPES from freezing. and. OF course. the
gas was turned on 10 supply the stow
Not being accustomed TO using gas, no
one had noticed that the cocks OF the
gas-burners throughout the building were
not properly turned 80 as 10 prevent the
gas from escaping. and the result was
that when the building was opened TINS
morning 10 be cleaned up II was louh"
filled with escaping gas.
STRUCK A MATCH.
Rives and Pointer the colored poriers'
searched the building TO ascertain "h'ie
the leakage was. and on going into the
IL ..fl.r,
which was filled with gas. Pointer mount
ed a table. and remarked to Rives That
he was goina, to find out where the gas
was escaping lie struck a match 10
light one OF the burners OF chandelier
and in an instant the explosion tolloW-
ed The explosion was a most terrific one
and was heard for squares around.
The plastcring of the ceiling and laths
OF the room i'm which the explosion took
place we're literally Knocked TO pieces.
Every timber of the floor OF the room
Immediately above was ripped up, as II
done by some experienced carpenter, ana
the glass Of almost every window in the
building was knocked into sTithereens.
Everywhere i'm the front yard OF the
clubhouse was TO be seen shattered WIN
dow-glass. some of which had been car
ried by the force Of the eXplosio.. on the
opposite side Of the street Adjoining the
clubhouse is the boarding-house Of Mr..
Freeman W. Jones. Such was the power
OF the explosion that Mrs. Jones while
walking across the floor Of her chamber
at the time IT occurred was knocked
from her feet and fell to the floor.
THE PoRTERs HURT
Rves and Pointer. the two colored
portcrs, were very painfully and seriously
burned about the face and head. The
. u lab. not anff
This club is composed Of some OF The
wealthiest and most prominent business
men of Petersburg.
The supply warehouse Of the Norfolk
and Western Railroad Company. at
Crewe. was destroyed by fire yesterday
morning about o'clock. How the fire
originated Is not known. Ia the build
ing was stored lot of oil and waste.
The Hastings Court Judge j. Nj. Null
len presiding. has been engaged all day
in tie trial Of alexander Hawkins. charg-
ed with the larceny OF steer the prop
erty of Mrs. Henrietta Y. Tucker OF
Brunswick county.
ST JOSEPHS DEDICATION
Cards of invitation 10 the dedication OF
St. Joseph's Catholic church, which takes
place next Sunday morning at 1880
O'Clock. are being sent out by Rev 4.
Among those to be invited are the pastors
of the different churches i'm the city. city
officials. and some Of our prominent citi-
Zens.
The dedicatory ceremonies will be con-
Quoted by Bishop Van de Nyver. of Rich
mond. who is expected TO arrive here
next Friday. The dedicatOry sermon VIII
be preached by Bishop Neane. rector
of the Catholic University at Washing
ton. Cardinal Gibbons Of Baltimore. is
expected 10 be present TO take part in
the service. 1t is not thought that Arch
bishop Kain. of St Louis. will be able
to attend.
Ex-Governor William r. Cameron left
for New York last night,
The neighboring ponds afford good skat-
ing to-day
The jury in the case OF Alex. Hawkins
failed TO agree on a verdict, and were
adjourned until tomorrow. Mr.. Will
liam II. Jones attorney for the Com
monwealth Of Petersburg. after being i'm
court all day. was taken suddenly in
this evening.