The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-02
EXPLOSION
At Moundsville Wrecks V. A
Nycavcr's Fine Home.
TIE ESCAPE OF FOUR INMATES
From Death was Almost AIirnculous-Tho
Plumber, who was Making Natural Gas
Connections. was Slightly InJured-Ths
fonng Woman Domestic was Also
BGtned-cnu,e orthe Explosion Al, Open
siop-coek Fire Department.. Good
Work. .-t5

Another disaster bcfell Moundsvllle
yesterday the worst In her history. At
about five minutes before three o'clock
yesterday afternoon the town was
shaken from center to circumference:
buildings shook and wlndows rattl4d
as II by an earthquake. In moment
Of time one Of the finest residences IN
the city was blown 10 a thousand pieces
and the occupants OF the house were
thrown from the building into the
street. A mother, with sweet two
year-old babe in her arms, and another
child by her side were taken from their
happy flreside. and the domestic from
her work in the kitchen, without
warning, hurled through the air to the
outside. All was the result Of u natural
gas explosion. As II my miracle. all In
the building escaped without serious
injury.
Plumbers had been at work making
connections TO the residence of Mr..
Viuton A. Weaver which Is located on
South Tomlinson avenue. near Tenth
street. In an addition known as the
Orchard" From some cause, not yet
definitely known, the gas blew up tear
Ing the handsome residence to pieces,
after which 1t took fire and was con-
suined with all Its valuable contents.
Not thing was saved from the ruins.
Those in the house barely escaped with
their lives. Mrs. Weaver was sitting in
front room on the second story and
was reading stories from Mother
Goose's" book to her children, only
two Of whom were with her. the father
being away at his work and the larger
children at school, The domestic, name
unknown, was in the rear of the house
on the first floor All were thrown from
their places by the force Of the explo-
sion, and. amid furniture and timbers.
wero blown through the building as 1t
gave way, alighting several feet out on
the ground, black from the dust and
smoke following In the wake OF the eN-
plosion.
Mrs. Weaver when picked up was
still clinSing TO the babe, Robert, in
her arms. She was bruised about the
body, but the baby was unhurt. The
other child, John. was injured more Sc
verely, but not seriously, falling near
his mother. The hired girl was burn
ed about the face and her hair. All the
injured were removed TO residences
nearby and medical aid was summoned
to them.
The blowing OF whistles and the clat-
ter of fire bells brought almost the en-
tire population to the scene in 4 little
while. The fire companies arrived
promptly and in few minutes had two
streams OF water playing. The residence
OF Mr.. 3. T. Hodgman, adjoining on
the next lot south, caught fire. 1t was
saved from destruction. but the build
ing Is badly damaged by the explosion
so near. Hardly window in the house
remains unbroken and the furniture
Is damaged. All of Mr.. Hodgman's fam
lily were away from home at the time.
The facts SO near as can be learned
as 10 the cause OF the explosion. are
that McChr!stian & Company were do
ing the plumbing for the gas in both
Mr.. Viewers and Mr.. Hodgman's house
from the same pipe. A stop cock had
been opened by some one, allowing the
gas to escape into the cellar of Mr..
Viewers house before all OF the con-
nections had been made and tested.
This Is contrary to the rules Of the
Wheeling Natural Gas Company. which
supplies the fuel. 1t is supposed an ac-
emulation was In the cellar and
through some crev.ce or fire place 1t got
60 the fire with the result stated.
Representatives Of the gas company
found the cock open when they arriv-
ed on the scene and shut 1t off.
The loss IS as follows: Mr.. Viewers
residence. 5000; contents, $1,000; Mr..
Eodgman's damage will not exceed
$500. All Is covered by insurance. most
ly In Wheeling companies.
This is a series OF four explosions
and fires Moundsville has had within
six weeks. The amount OF property de-
stroyed within the past twenty days
will foot up nearly 100000. and still
there is not the fire protection there
should be. The water supply yesterday
was good, but. there WAS too small n
pressure. A policeman went TO the
standplpe. climbed up It and found all
but about twenty feet filled. The engi-
necr at the pumping station came up to
the fire and said he could not explain
why the pressure was not greater. The
city council meets Thursday evening.
and It is hoped by all citizens OF
MoundSville that, since such disasters
have befallen the town. warning
enough has been given for better pro-
lection to property In the future.
Much praise Is due the heroic fire lad
dies for their work In handling the
blaze. Many times they We're entirely
enveloped In smoke and steam as they
worked.