The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-25

Thirty Persons Injured, Sixteen Ot
Whom Arc In a Serious Condition
More Than One Hundred ln the Pool
room When the Explosion Occurred
Race just Being Called.
Hot Springs, Ark, Dec. 24.-By an
explosion of gasoline this afternoon in
the cellar of the Turf Exchange. a club
; house and pool room, operated by
Chambers & Walker, the building was
badly damaged and thirty people were
injured, sixteen of whom are in a
serious condition. The most seriously
injured are:
R. C. Chambers, one of the propri-
etors of the Turf Exchange, both legs
and both wrists broken.
William Nelwig. a blind man, man.
ager of bath house both legs broken;
will die.
]. S. Meeks, Hot Springs, badly bruis-
ed and cut.
Joseph Kinney, Hot Springs, both
legs broken.
Joseph Pace, hotel keeper, Hot
Springs. both legs broken.
A. Finnegan, plumber, Hot Springs
both legs broken.
James Cowen, Hot Springs; both legs
broken.
William Metzger boy, Hot Springs,
both legs broken and skull fractured;
will die.
James Coughlin, plumber, Hot
Springs, leg broken.
C. G. Parker Milwaukee, Wis, both
legs broken.
A. F. Hotchskiff, Hot Springs, knee
fractured.
T. ozier, engineer, Hot Springs, both
legs broken.
H. George, New York, leg broken.
F. Canffeld, Cincinnati, both legs
broken, ribs crushed.
Walter Powers, St. Louis. arm brok-
en-.
Eugene DAILY, Hot Springs, both legs
broken.
Thomas Phelan, telegraph operator,
Hot Springs; badly cut.
Mr.. Donnelly, visitor, residence un-
known leg broken also badly cut.
Twelve others sustained bruises and
slight injuries.
About o'clock this afternoon the
pool room was crowded with more than
one hundred persons. Just as a New
Orleans race was being called by the
operator the floor Of the building SEEM
ed to rise, and in an instant report
that shook the entire block rang out.
The upper floor and back walls of the
building fell on the mass of struggling
men, who Were wildly excited and en-
! deavoring to escape to the street. The
entire house looked as If a tornado had
ploughed through its center. The front
| glass windows were broken and both
sides of the structure were shattered
by the concussion. which resembled the
report of g. twelve-pounder.
The news of the explosion spread rap
idly and soon Central avenue was
jammed with people. Reports were
current that several persons had been
killed. The police and firemen took
charge of the building and the work of
rescue began. Men were pulled from
under the debris in terribly shattered
state One of the most pitiable sights
was when Billy" Nelwig, the blind
manager of the Lamar bath-house, was
taken from the ruins. Nelwig is wide
| ly known to the thousands of visitors
who come to Hot Springs annually.
| r. C. Chambers, one of the prOprie-
tors of the Turf Exchange, is also a
| lessee of the Fort Erie (Ontario) race
track, and is one Of the best known
sporting men in the country. His con-
dition is serious.
| The injured were taken in charge by
the local hospital physicians.
| The exact cause Of the explosion has
not yet been determined. 1t is said by
some that gas, which had escaped in
the cellar of the building, was ignited
in some manner.
Another report, which is probably
correct, says a driver of a gasoline
wagon was filling tank in the cellar,
when the explosion occurred.
"Billy" Nelwig. one of the victims of
the explosion, died at midnight.