The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-09-08
Many Persons Injured by an Ex-
pIosiOn Near Indianapolis.
SIX WERE KILLED OUTRIGHT
Flames Add Terror to the Appalling
Situation and the Town Is AL
most in Ruins.

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 6.-Broad Ripple.
a suburban resort, 10 miles north of the
city, was the scene of two frightful ex-
plosions of natural gas Saturday. One
explosion followed a few minutes later
than the other one Each was very de-
structive of life and limb, and from
each explosion started flames that wiped
out the business part of the town.
The catastrophe killed six people and
wounded fully 90 others, some of whom
will die of their injuries.
The dead are
Plus Gresh, grocer, aged 10, burned to
death.
Jacob Darling, painter, crushed by
falling walls.
Charles Yount, single, aged 20, found
dead in grocery ruins.
Henry Ernest, laborer.
John Porter, farmer.
Albert Hayworth, huckster.
Among those most seriously injured
are: William Boss, hips crushed Or
Vile Heady, street car conductor, in
jured internally, burned about the head
aud face, probably fatal; Anderson
Plummer, cut over the eye, hand
crushed and injured internally; Frank
Morris, hands and legs burned, body
badly bruised, will probably die; Frank
Marvel, head cut, two fingers blown off
and leg broken, injured internally !;
James Mitchell, New Augusta, brick
mason. both legs broken John Doaks,
back broken, injuries thought to be
fatal; William Day, blown across the
street, teeth knocked out, and hurt in
ternally Jesse Day, blown out of the
second story window and badly shaken
no, face scratched and leg hurt Jacob
Cruise, four ribs broken.
Besides these there were nearly so
others slightly injured.
The first explosion occurred in the
rear part of the James +. Watts drug
store, and the five men within were
thrown clear out upon the street, all of
them more or less injured, and two with
broken bones. The building, which was
of wood, burst into flames at once and
burned like finder. The whole popula-
ton was upon the ground in few min
utes, and, while part of the people
looked after the injured men, others
helped neighboring merchants to re-
move their goods, as the fire was spread
ing rapidly.
Across the street was the old Oddfel-
lows building, of brick, the ground
floor of which was occupied by Squire
Gresh as grocery. While it was sur
rounded by people a second explosion,
dealing death and ruin in every direc-
ton, occurred. There was binding
flash, deafening crash and the Odd
. fellows building was mass of scat
tered ruins, bursting into fame before
the crowd could recover from its terror
and comprehend what had happened.
Fierce flames were spreading in every
direction, five buildings were on fire at
once.
The explosions had knocked out all
the wires in the town except single
telephone, and this was utilized to ap-
peal for help from the city. In short
time corps of physicians were on their
way out by trolly cars, and fiat car
ON the Monon was loaded with fire
apparatus and dispatched to the scene.
In the meantime the people of Broad
Ripple had palled themselves together
and begun the work of rescue and re-
lief The burning ruins were invaded,
and the dead and wounded carried from
them. The dead were brought to a
morgue in this city, while some of the
critically injured were removed to
hospitals at this point.