The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-05

Scenes Immediately After the ExplO-
sion md During the Excitement.

CINCINNATI, o., May AT o'clock to-
night the five-story building Nos. 430 and 432
Walnut street, between Fourth and Fifth,
was blown to the ground by an explosion of
gasoline. The shock was so terrific that it
was felt all over the city and not one brick
on another is left in the front and rear
walls of the buil1ing, while the adjacent
buildings are badly damaged and the glass
in the windows in the Gibson House and
the large Johnson building, across the
street, were all broken. The glass was
broken out of street cars that were passing
at the time and one of the cars was badly
wrecked, but none of the passengers was
seriously hurt. All the horses in the imme-
diate neighborhood broke from their fasten-
ings and ran away and there was not only
intense excitement, but also the greatest
confusion.
The explosion took place four doors from
the intersection of Fifth and Walnut streets,
where the postoffice is located on one side
and Fountain square on the other. No part
of the city is crowded more at that time OF
the evening, and there were soon many
thousands iof people about Fountain square
and the space around the Government Build
ing, while Walnut street was completely
blockaded. There were at first reports about
fireworks being stored in the building. and
also about dynamite and ammunition, so
that there were several stampedes in the. .im-
mense crowds on the reports about other
explosions being likely TO follow. Several
people were slightly hurt in these stam-
The ground floor of No. 432 Walnut street
was occupied by Adolph c. Drach for
saioon He owned that part of the building
and the other part was owned by NJ Gold
smith, and the first floor of this building
at No. 4SO Walnut street. was also occupied
floors. af the five-story building were oc-
cupied as flats. 1t is not known at 10 O'Clock
how many people were in the fats or how
as the building Immediately collapsed. There
was no fire to consume the debris and make
certain death OF ali in the building, but
long time so densely that the work of recu-
ing the victims proceeded with great diff
ed to te WORK rRd The Saloons
were SAID to be quite full of people. One
of the barkeepers who was not on duty at
upper flats and was wild with grief be-
cause he knew. that his wife and four chill
dren were In the ruins. One of his children
was recovered dead soon after the explosion.
There are wild reports about the extent of
the loss Of life. Six bodies were recovered
up to $50 p. m. and 1t is known that there
The fremen are working in the rear and
on both sides OF the wreck, while the police
are keeping the place clear and protecting
TINS. Part of one of the side walls is still
standing, and on the fourth floor plainly in
view by the electric light, hangs a picture
that was dear 10 some family occupying the
fiat, while the occupants are no doubt in the
debris. One of the children of Mr. Drach
was recovered dead. The body of Mrs
Drachs was found soon after the explosion.
but 1t could not be extricated from the tim
bers, and was still in the debris at 10 O. clock.
During the evening there was much ex-
element among the guests in the Gibson
House and at all places in that vicinity
on Walnut street. The excitement as the
more intense because 1t could not be def
nitely learned for some time what caused
the explosion. 1t was finally ascertained
that the saloons in the building had put in
their own electric plants for incandescent
lights. and had just secured a gasoline en-
plant got out OF fix, and there was flash,
caused the explosion. The sudden collapse
of the large building smothered everything
in the cellar, so tnat there was no fire. The
firemen were soon assisted by some expert
engineers, VINO made openings through the
basement walls Of adjacent buildings, and
were recovering some of the victims in that
manner. The debris seemed to all fall into
one heap, and not scatter about the street.
so that there was the greatest difficulty in
recovering the dead bodies and rescuing
the injured Although all possible efforts
were made TO clear up the place, II Is con-
ceded that it will be impossible to ascer-
tain the extent of the loss OF life Tonight.
The loss In property is quite large.
Mr.. John j. James. Of the Salt Lake City
Herald. was just leaving the Gibson House