Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08
ISSHAKEN
BY VIOLENT
EXPLOSIONS
ESCAPING GAS IN ELECTRIC
MANHoLE IeNITED BY WIRES
AND SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE
INJURED.

A series OF explosions. which shook the
earth and buildings and which threatened
the lives OF hundreds OF people, occurred
in the heart OF Atlanta Saturday night
LEAKING gas. which made SIS way into
the eondufts OF the Southern Bell Tel
ephone and Telegraph company, exploded
and blew the tops OF OF number OF man
holes along Decatur street and Edgewood
avenue. threw belgian blocks and debris
high into the air. fatally injuring one and
seriously w0unding several persons.
me leaking gas from one OF the man
holes. At the corner OF Pryor and Decatur
streets. was ignited and burned in one
roar OF flames. fifteen feet high in the
afr.
The EXPLOSIONS occurred at 80 Saturday
night. and were seen and heard by many
thousand people
Grady Wells. 12-year-old son OF Mr..
and Mrs. II. r. Wells. OF Anderson. s. c.
was directly over the manhOle at the cor
uer OF Decatur and Pryor streets when the
explosion occurred and he was rendered
blind. besides receiving injuries which the
physicians think viii cause his death
Mrs. Dora Lanford. wife OF DR.. Will
fam ]. Lanford and Horace Lanford,
their 4-year-old son. who were with
Grady Wells. were seriously injured. Mrs.
LanfOrd's right shoulder and arm being
severely injured By flying rocks. and lit
tie Horace being thrown down By the
force Of the explosion and seriously hurt.
Dave Richardson. negro. OF 10 Will
Jams street. was struck on the leg by a
flying stone and severely injured.
Several others were knocked down by
the force Of the explosion. but were not
badly injured None OF the wounded were
taken TO the hospital.
The explosions six In number, occurred
at 7-S0 O'Clock. and at intervals OF only
few seconds duration. The first explo-
sion occurred at the corner OF Marietta
and Peachtree streets, where the double
iron tops OF the manhole there were lift
ed bodily and thrown several feet away.
The second occurred at the corner OF
Broad and Marietta, where q similar ex-
piosion occurred
The Worst Explosion.
The double explosion, at the corner of
Pryor and Decatur streets, was the most
serious. II was here that all the injured
received their wounds. and here that the
force OF the explosion made itself evil
dent.
The next explosion occurred at the
corner OF CORTLAND and Decatur streets,
followed half an hour later by an ex-
plosion az the corner OF Edgewood avenue
and Pryor street.
All OF the explosions lifted the heavy
iron pipes from the manholes and threw
belgian blocks several feet into the air.
Thousands OF people saw and heard the
explosions. and the police had great diff
ficulty in keeping the people away from
the dangerous spots ~
When the escaping gas az the manhole
az the corner OF Decatur and Pryor ig-
nited. people crowded around the spot.
and despite the ropes which the police
stretched around the place, there was
great difficulty in keeping them away from
the dangerous spot.
Great excitement prevailed all over the
city when the explosions occurred. and
the vicinity OF man holes which had not
yet exploded was given a wide berth, the
people not knowing at what minute other
explosions would occur.
The explosions were occasioned BY the
leaking OF gas into the telephone con-
duits- The pressure Of the leaking gas
became too strong for the manholes. and
their tops were forced high into the air
By the force OF the explosions.
AS result OF the explosions and the
gas FIRE which followed. nearly all OF the
Bell telephones in the city were rendered
useless for the time being. All OF the
new underground wires for the police sig
nal service. which, were being installed,
but which had notsbeen completed, were
burned. and win have to be entirely re-
placed.