The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-06

| but Immediately 1 surmised that the
lamp in the room had exploded and
that some of my clothes were burning.
| l thought of running out through the
kitchen door. ] threw my apron over
my face and in this way hunted the
door and ran outside where I cried for
help and 'fire' A man came running
to me. Soon after neighbors arrived
and 1 was taken over here. l smelled
gas around the house during the day.
but did not think but What 1t might
| have been some shoe blacking which
one Of the boys used on his patent
feathers, only it was stronger. or course
I learned afterwards that gas had
accumulated and exploded"
Mrs. Neher appeared to take the
accident without much prostration be-
yond severe fright, AMI her friends
hope that she will not suffer and dire
consequences or relapse from her ac-
cident
Mr.. Neher stated to The reporter that
he had smelled gas about the house
for several days, but that he did not
know what to attribute it to. He was OF
the opinion that the gas escaped from the
street mains and followed the water
pipes into the building and that IL
in the front cellar where there is severe
evidence of its explosion. He could not
state what his loss would be to furni-
ture and other goods, although he stat
ed it was almost totally destroyed. The
building is owned by a member of the
Sommer's Bros, who conduct the
Plain Center mills north of the city.
and had been occupied by the Neher
| family for many years.
Percy Dittenhafer, who resides in the
! immediate vicinity of the Neher place,
stated that his wife was at home when
the accident happened, and that she was
thrown violently to he floor, so great
was the force of the explosion. Other
neghbors stated that they experience
ed like results. Some parties who came
in from the extreme west end stated
that they heard the report of the
explosion a mile away, it sounding as
dull thud.
John Imhoff, who was probably one
Of the first to arrive on the scene,
stated to a reporter that he sat by
a window in the Gottshall residence,
when he heard a loud report and at the
same time upon looking out he saw q
dull red flame escaping from the build
| ing. This caused him to locate the
| fire at once. and render the excellent
assistance which he did.
To illustrate the force with which the
various articles were blown about the
room, there was at least one incident
Just above window in the kitchen on
the north side of the house there was
small crack in the wall where 1t COM
bined with the ceiling, and in this crack
was wedged, so that it could not be
removed without tearing it, a piece OF
an apron which either had been worn
| by Mrs. Neher or which was lying upon
a nearby table. Curtains were blown
away across the yard into the lots Of
neighbors, and shirt waist is said to
have been picked up nearly thirty feet
away. The fire caused by the gas
apparently did not last more than
few seconds at the most. as there are
evidences of this fact where clothing
had only been scorched and not
| destroyed.
Manager E. w. Lewis Of the East Ohio
Gas company, visited the scene Of the
disaster shortly after it had occurred
He gave out no statement of what might
have caused the explosion, and when
approached by a News Democrat re-
porter, he had nothing to say for the
present. 1t appears that the natural
gas company had just completed laying
mains in North Cherry street. and
Mr.. Neher attributes the escaping gae
to the end of the main which probably
had not been securely fastened. as he
alleged.
Nearly all night long small flames
were burning in the yard fronting the
residence showing just where the es-
Gaping gas comes out of the ground
A large crowd was attracted about
them and various attempted solutions
were made Of the accident.
The house was lifted off it's founda-
ton it appears from the force, as II
today stands possibly two inches of
the true line whereon 1t was construct
ed. Some of the heavy lower timbers
were split and the woodwork badly
broken.
PIPES NOT FAULTY.
It Is stated that the accident did not
occur because of faulty pipes or coup
lings, but because of Carelessness OF
workmen. The service pipe ends in the
vicinity of the residence and 1t is stated
that when the pipe was put down a plug
was put in at the end. This was a
wooden plug and should have been a
cred up and not thought of again. 1t
has been leaking ever since and is said
to have followed the water pipes into
the cellar.
OFFERS TO SETTLE.
Negotiations were opened today be-
tween the East Ohio Gas Co. and the
owners of the house and furniture for
the adjustment of the damage caused
by the gas explosion. Attorney ]. c.
Boutwell,, who represents Mr. Sommers,
the owner of the house. and also Mr..
Neher, the owner of the furniture, stat
ed that Manager Lewis had asked him
to fix their price and they would try and
adjust the damage and pay the claims.
Mr.. Boutwell, suggested that each side
pick man, and the two choose a third,
and let the three appraise the damage.
Mr.. Lewis thought that would not be
necessary as he deemed 1t certain that
IthaU NnI1l1 q hnf a..