The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-11-16
-FOUR ARE BURNED,
An Explosion of Illuminating Gas
Creates Great Excitement at St.
Georges Society Hall.
INJURED WILL ALL RECOVER

INJURED WILL ALL RECOVER.
Ticket Office at the New Hall Fills With
Gas From an open Burner and Lighted
Match Causes an Explos1on.-Flames
Rush Through the Little window in the
| Office and Causes Stampede.-No DAM
| age to the Building
Four persons were badly burned by
an explosion of illuminating gas at ST.
Georges school hall last night about
10 o'clock. The injured are:
! Herman Brockhaus, 321 Orange
street, horribly burned about the head
and face.
| Hubert Schwan, 222 Milwaukee ave-
nue., hair burned from head and other
painful in juries.
J. B. Mayer, 1O2 North Chicago
street, beard burned off and other bad
burns about the face and head.
Little Joe thinner, 227 Lake avenue,
face burned and eyebrows singed.
The circumstances attending the
opening night of the fair given by ST.
Georges society at their new hall were
the most exciting which ever occurred
on the North side. Notwithstanding
the inc1ement weather a large crowd
gathered and all went merry as the
marriage bell until a little after 10
O'Clock when the accident occurred
which came near putting an end 70 the
festivities of the evening.
I The accident happened in one of the
ticket offices on the ground floor, where
Herman Brockhaus had charge of the
ticket sale. The room was lighted by
a single gas jet, but it did not work
well and had been turned off. AS the
Jet was not entirely shut off the little
room, about three feet square, was fill
ed with the fumes in few moments.
At this time Peter Jacobs came to
| the office window and noticing the
odor of escaping gas he asked one of
the men about to light the jet. ]. E.
| Mayer, Hubert SChwan and Joe Zim-
mer were standing near. Mr.. Brock
haus, who was in the little room, struck
a match the lighting of which at once
precipitated an explosion of the gas
which had been stored up in the little
a1cove.
The explosion caused a report like
the firing of pistol and a Stream Of
flame shot through the window catch
| ing the bystanders full in the face.
Mr.. Mayer, who was nearest the win
dow, was knockedsd down the stairs by
the explosion. His beard was burned
from his face and great burns were
found on all parts of his head and face.
Mr.. Schwan was burned in a similar
manner but he managed to hurry to
his home across the street. His hair
was burned off and his injuries were
exceedingly painful. In the mean
time Mr.. Brockhouse was in the midst
of the flames in the ticket office. AS
soon as possible the door was opened
and he was released from his peri1ous
position. His hands and face were
burned in horrible manner. Little
Joe thinner was standing near the
window and met with a slight injury.
AS soon as possible the injured people
we're removed to the rooms in the base
ment of the building and the wounds
were dressed. 1t is reported that there is
no danger of the burns resulting serious
ly, but all of the in iured are suffering in
tense pain this morning. No blame is
placed on the gas company for the
accident and it is stated that the fault
was entirely of the men in the Office
who failed to shut off the gas. Not
outstanding the accident the fair had
very suspicious opening. A large
crowd was in attendance and passed
the evening in very pleasant manner.
The new hall was decorated until it
looked a bower of loneliness, Supper
was served during the evening and
many times the long tables were filled
with the patrons of the fair. The main
room was respondent in it's decorations
and the walls were lined with the pref
ty booths set up by the different socic-
ties of the church. The most beauti-
full of all was the booth under the di-
rection of the sisters where all sorts of
fancy work was offered for sale TO The
patrons of the fair. The Imperial band
furnished splendid music throughout
the evening. The fair will continue
for the remainder of the week and il
promises to be the most successful
event OF the kind ever held in the
city.
Election of Offcers.