Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-26
Two Killed and Thirty Injured
by Gasoline Explosion at
Hot Springs
THE GASOLINE TANK LEAKED
Porter Opened the Door Which Allowed
Gases to Be lgnited by the Lighted
cisars-Buildins Smashed to Pieces
and Fell on the oecupants-More
Dying.

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wig and Joe kenney. both of Hot
Springs, victims of yesterdays pool
room explosion, died during the night.
Thus far these are the only fatalities
recorded, altho four more of the victims
are likely to die. These are:
C. R. Donnelly. of Chicago; VIM.
Metregar IL years old, of Hot Springs:
Thomas o. zeir, engineer, Of Arlington
hotel Hot Springs; and w. S. McIner-
rey, of Louisvill, KY.
The explosion of gas or gasoline In
the cellar of the Turf Exchange, a club
house and pool room operated by
Chambers & Walker wrought dreadful
havoc. The house stands on Central
avenue in the heart of the city. When
the explosion occurred the pool room
was crowded with people, and all went
down in a mass of wreckage.
r. C. Chambers, one of the proprie-
tors of the club, had both legs and both
wrists broken. The bones were set last
night, and today 1t is believed he will
recover.
J. C. Burch, of Chicago, sustained a
broken leg and is seriously injured.
Benz. Murray, the driver of gasoline
tank wagon, who was arrested, charged
with criminal negligence, made state
ment this morning. He says he made a
connection from his wagon to the gaso-
line tank in the cellar under the pool
room. Upon entering the cellar ne
found 90 or 80 gallons of gasoline over
flowed in large pools on the floor. Fear
ing an explosion, he rushed to an open
window and closed it. He says the door
was then opened by a negro porter, and
the gases coming into contact with the
lighted cigars in the pool room ignited
and the explosion followed. Murray was
blown against the side of the cellar,
but escaped with slight injury.
All OF the injured are receiving the
best OF treatment,
About o'clock Wednesday afternoon
the pool room was crowded with over
100 persons. Just as a race at New Or
leans was being called by the operator
the floor of the building seemed to rise
and In an instant report that shook
the entiia block rang out
building fell ON the mass OF struggling
men who were wildly excited in an en-
deavor to escape to the street
The entire house looked as II tor
nadel had plowed thru its center.
The front glass windows were broken
and both sides of the structure We're
shattered by the conclusion which re-
sembled the report of a twelve FOUNDER.
The news of the explosion spread
rapidly and soon Central avenue was
iammed 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 We're
pulled from under the debris in a ter
rlbly shattered state.
The injured were
r. C. Chambers, one OF the proprie-
tors, both legs and both wrists broken.
VIM. Helwig, a blind man, manager
of a bath house, both legs broken, will
die.
eeksfi kJMSet cmfw emf en- cmcm
J. S. Meeks, Hot Springs, badly
bruised and cut.
Joseph Kinney, Hot Springs, both
legs broken.
Joseph Pace. hotel keeper, Hot
Springs, both legs broken.
- Finnegan, plumber, Hot Springs,
both legs broken.
James Cowan. Hot Springs, both legs
broken.
VIM. Metregar. 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.
AlF. Hotchkiff, Hot Springs, knee
fractured.
TO. zier, engineer, Hot Springs, both
legs broken.
a. George, New York, leg broken.
FL. Garfield Cincinnati, both legs
broken, ribs crushed.
Walters Powers, St Louis, arm
broken.
Thomas Phelan. telegraph operator,
Hot Springs, badly cut.
J. C. Burch, Chicago, leg broken, not
expected to live.
w. S. McInerney. Louisville, Ky, In
ternal injuries probably will die.
Henry Bindsey, New York, injured
about lower limbs.
J. G. Crawford, Cincinnati, leg and
wrist broken.
Twelve others sustained bruises and
slight injuries.