Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-12-02

Yesterday afternoon about 2:45
O'Clock, at Moundsyille, the most terri
bic catastrophy that ever happened in
that city occurred on South TOmlinsOn
avenue, between Tenth and Eleventh
streets. At about that hour a terrific
explosion was felt all over town, and
few moments later an alarm of fire
was sounded, which called everybody
to that portion of the city The fine
residence of Y. A. Weaver was
mass OF flames. lying IN one great
heap, caused by an explosion of natural
gas. A force of plumbers were at work
placing gas fXings and making con-
necIiOns with the service main, and in
some manner the stOpcOcks mad Deen
left open, when a heavy pressure Of gas
came on, winch filled Jne cellar, anu
this igniting with the stove above,
caused the explosion. The report was
Visibly felt in all sections of town,
many remarking that il seemed like the
nitrO-glyceTine explosion that occurred
a few weeks ago. Charles McChris-
tian, who was working at the curb,
says that he heard the gas coming
through the mains. but before he could
At the time of the accident there were
but four persons about the house, Mrs.
Weaver, her baby and little boy, and
the hired girl Mrs. Weaver and her
children were in the second story front
room when the explosion occurred. The
first thing she knew she was blown
clear into the front yard, and miracu-
lous as it. may seem. she had her baby
in her arms. The little boy also land
ed nearby. The hired girl was thrown
out the kitchen door. All of them es-
capped serious injury. The sides OF the
house were blown outward, and the
roof and inner walls tumbled in. The
whole mass took IRE instantly, and be-
fore the liremen could arrive it was a
solid mass of flames. Pieces OF plate
glass were scattered oil over the street
and had The appearance Of being
scratched with a diamond cutter. 1t
was a deplorable accident but how the
members OF The family ever escaped
instant death it is hard 10 imagine.
The residence was d new frame struc-
ture. lately built at a cost OF over So,-
O00. and the loss TO furniture and other
valuables Will run the total loss up to
between $1,000 and $4,000. Nothing
whatever was saved. Il was reported
at one time that the hired girl had per-
ished i'm the flames, and at another that
one of the plumbers had not been seen
after The accident, but both of these
rumors proved to be urfounded
The residence of b. X. Hodgman,
situated about twenty feet to the south,
was also badly scorchcd, and 1T was
hard work 10 keep it from burning.
An the windows were broken out, and
the paint all burned off one side. HIS
damage will probably amount to 9oGU.
Both the stOpc0cks were open leading
10 his. as we'll rs Mr.. Weayer's resi-
dence and the great wonder is th2i an
equally bad explosion had not occurred
i'm his house at the same time.
The accident was bad enough, but
luckily it was no worse by the loss OF
human life as well as property. As
IT. is Mrs. Weaver was considerably
bruised. the little boy had a severe
knock on the head, where he was
struck by one of the timbels the hired
girI had her hair and face considerably
burned. and one of the plumbers was
severely cut about the lace and hands.
All of these will be we'll again in
short time.
This is the first accident that has
happened from natural gas since the
town was piped and it may be the
cause of detewing many from lts use.
However. this accident can be traced
to carelessuess. and i'm its proper use,
gas is entirely harmless.