Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-05
UNUSUAL Accident.
HEMPFIELD EGNTTED ESCAF-
ING NATURAL GAS
AND CAUSED AN EXPLOSION
Which Painfully Burned the Engine
Crew-FIames Burned Fifty Feet
In the Air, and Over It-B. 6 o..
Ofice had Received Warning-Tei-
ephone Wires Burned.

An unusual accident, which might
have been attended with more serious
results took place cary yesterday morn
ing at point near the IS" bridge, be-
tween Elm Grove and Triadelphia.
The accident was caused by.a break
in the 10-inch natural gas main which
crosses the creek and passes under the
Hempfield tracks at that place. The
theory is that the constant passing of
trains loosened a joint, which finally
blew out under a gas pressure of $50
pounds to the square inch. 1t was not
a screw joint, but had been secured
with lead.
When the connection was broken,
the rush Of escaping gas made a noise
that awakened almost every person
living in the vicinity. Among the
number was the family of Mr.. Thorn
burg. An Investigation was made
about Ais o'clock in the morning, and
Mr.. Thornburg Immediately realized
the danger to an engine which would
pass over the escaping gas. He states
that he called up the B. & o. Office
in Wheeling, and gave warning of the
danger.
Whether or not there was mis-
understanding, or the warning was not
needed, does not appear. The Cincin-
natl and Pittsburg express passed
through the west early in the morn
ing, and is scheduled to depart from
Wheeling at 5:15 a. m.
The express was going along at
high rate of speed. AS soon as the
fire-box on the engine struck the es
Gaping gas, it became ignited, and the
flame shot into the air for a distance
OF fully fifty feet, according to the
stories of eye witnesses. The entire
train passed over the burning gas, and
all the passenger coaches were more
OF less damaged from the flames. They
did not reach the interior of any of the
coaches, however, and none of the pas
sengers were injured. The paint on
the coaches cracked and burned, and
all will have to go to the shops for
repairs.
Ihe engine was in charge of David
Phillips, engineer, and VIM. kalbaugh,
fireman, both of whom live at Glen
wood, Pa. They continued at their
posts until Triadelphia was reached,
where the train stopped, and DR..
Shields was summoned and made an
examination OF their injuries. Both
were painfully but not seriously, burn
ed, their wounds being confined to
their heads. Their boards, eyebrows
and lashes were burned off, and their
hair singed. Neither inhaled the
flame. A substitute took the place of
the fireman, and the engineer remain
ed at his post, the train proceeding to
its destination after a short delay.
The explosion, when the gas ignited,
tore up the cross ties, and the flames
burned the wires and pole of the tele-
phone company, shutting off connec-
ton with phones east of that point,
until the force of men put to work to
repair the lines completed their work
last evening. A Western Union tele-
graph pole was also burned in such
manner as to require a new pole or
Strengthening.
The flames could be seen by residents
of Pleasant Valley and points in the
city 1t burned for about an hour.
when an employe of the Natural Gas
Company shut off the supply at the
nearest gate.