The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-09
nTNNTOT DIR. A. E. BUCHANAN
OAAl IN 4 a2.33 When Building
ENVELOPED IN FLAMES
PECULIAR GASOLINE EXPLOSION
THAT RESULTED SERIOUSLY.
Peter Veth's Family, at Chicago, Bad
ly Burned When He Struck Match
to Light His Cigar.

CHICAGO, Aug. S-Striking a match to
light cigar resulted in three persons, COM
posing the family of Peter Veth. at 227 East
Huron street, being seriously burned yes
terday. The fire was caused by an explo-
sion of gasoline vapor. The injured are:
PETER VETH.
MRS. BESSIE VETH, his wife.
EDWIN VETH, aged two and one-half
years.
Mrs. Veth was more seriously injured than
her husband and child. but will probably
recover. Mrs. Veth went to the room of
Mrs. G.. II. Solomon, on the second floor,
from whom she had rented her rooms, and
procured small quantity of gasoline in
coffee cup to clean a brass bedstead. TAX
ing it to her rooms she used the stuff in
cleaning the bed and with brush applied It
to the woodwork while the cup containing
the oil stood on the floor beside her. Her
little boy, with bare feet and wearing but
little clothing, was playing on the floor. 1t
was not noticed that the gasoline had filled
the room with vapor and Mr.. Veth struck
a match for the purpose of lighting a
cigar. In an instant there was an explosion
and the room filled with flame The
flames caught the clothing of Mrs Veth.
The husband caught up the child in his
arms and ran down the stairs out of the
fire. few seconds later he was followed
by his wife, who was screaming and en-
VGIOpSd IN names from nead TO 1OOt. All
her clothing was burning and the wrapper
she wore fell from her in blazing strips. At
the landing on the second floor she met
Mrs. Solomon, the landlady, and the frantic
woman threw her arms around Mrs. Solo
mon and begged her to save her. Mrs. Sol
ONION disengaged herself, only to be grasped
again about the neck by the agonized
woman. She succeeded in shaking her off
and ordering her to remain standing where
rooms and procured a pitcher Of water,
which she poured on Mrs. Veth. This was
repeated by the landlady,. and then the
latter threw around Mrs Veth large quilt
from one of her beds and the flames were
subdued
The boys injuries were not serious.
After giving the boy to the officer, Mr..
Veth ran upstairs and found his wife in
the rooms of Mrs. Solomon. In all her pain
Mrs Veth cried out for her child, and could
with difficulty be made to believe that his
injuries were comparatively slight. The
Chtcago-aVenue ambulance to the German
Hospital. There the physicians. after
dressing her burns. said she would prob
ably recover. Mr.: Veth was taken to the
same hospital His hands and arms are
severely burned and his hair and eyebrows
singed.
Fir eman MOnnghnn's BODY Recovered.
CHICAGO. Aug. S-The dead body of
Fireman Thomas Monaghan, Chief Swe-
MES driver, came to the surface of the
river this morning and the crew of a tug
which was passing at the time towed it TO
the lnd1dna-StreeL DrluSe, Wnefe " was
taken on shore and removed to the morgue.
The tug Frank B. Crane steamed slowly up
the north branch of the river this morning.
Capt. "A b. Knaggs, chief engineer of the
Independent Tug Company, and Capt. John
HenneSsey, in charge OF the tug, We're
standing in the bow of the boat and both
were watching the murky water intently.
Near the Indiana-Street bridge the body Of
q man arose to the surface The tug
towed IL TO the bank. A number of fire.
men were present and when the body was
turned face upwards they at once recog
nized the features of the chiefs late driver,
Thomas Monaghan.
The dead driver to all appearances, re-
ceived the full force OF the explosion in the
Northwestern elevator Thursday evening.
The body came to the surface In the mid
die of the river, and when examination
was made of the remains it was found that
both of Monaghan'S legs Were broken be-
low the knee and his left avn was also
broken His uniform was torn into shreds
I'm places and his face bore evidence of haV-
ing been severely burned. IT Is believed by
the firemen who were at the fire Thursday
evening that Monaghan was standing on
the pier which extended from the elevator
into the water. Some people who were
standing the Indiana-street bridge
stated after the explosion that two men
had been seen on the pier and that both
were gone when the smoke cleared away.
Who Monaghan's companion on the pier
was no one seems to know. His remains
are stlll unaccounted for. The officers,
however, will continue to drag the river.