Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-25
POOL ROOM BLOWN TO BITS
Gasoline Tank E1plOdes at hot Springs,
Arkansas, WreOking Building.
THlaTY-TWo PERSONS ARE BADLY INJURED
over One Hundred Watching Ticker
at Time of Disaster, Five of
whom VIII Probably Die
from wounds.

HUT SPRINGS, Ark Dec. A.-By an ex-
plosion Of gas or gasoline this afternoon
In the cellar Of the Turf Exchange, a club
mouse and poolroom operated by Cham
oers q Walker. the building was badly
wrecked and thirty-two persons were in
)ured, twenty OF whom are In a serious
condition.
The most serious were:
H. c. Chambers, one Of the proprIetors
both legs and wrists broken.
william Helwig, a blind bath house
manager; both legs broken; will die.
). 81 Meeks, Hot Springs; badly bruised
and cut.
Joseph Kinney Hot Springs; legs
broken.
Finnegan, plumber, Hot Springs;
both legs broken.
James Cowen, Hot Springs; both legs
broken.
William Metzger. a boy, Hot Springs;
legs broken and skull fractured will die.
James Coughlin, plumber, Hot Springs;
leg broken.
c. G. Parker. Milwaukee; both legs
broken.
AL F. Hotchkir. Hot Springs knee frac-
tured.
broken.
II. George, legs broken.
F. Crsnfleld. Cincinnati; legs broken.
ribs crushed.
walter Powers, st. Louis; arm broken.
Eugene DAILY Hot Springs; both legs
broken.
Thomas Phelan, telegraph operator, Hot
Springs; badly cut.
c. R. Don1elly, 500 State street. Chi
cago; forearm and knee broken; will die
]. c. Burch, Chicago; leg broken; not ex-
pected to live.
w. S. McInterney, Louisville, KY; In
ternal injuries; probably will die
Henry Lindsey, New York; injured about
lower limbs.
j. c, Crawford, Cincinnati; leg and wrist
broken.
Twelve others sustained slight bruises.
Rooms Crowded Mt Time.
When the explosion occurred about
this afternoon the room was crowded with
more than leo persons
Just as race at New Orleans was being
called by the operator the floor rose and
terrific explosion threw the building to
the ground. The upper floor and the brick
walls fell on the struggling mass of men.
The entire house looked as though a tor
nado had plowed through its center. The
'front.' glass windows were broken and both
sides Of the structure were shattered by
the concussion.
The news Of the disaster spread rapidIv
and soon Central avenue was jammed with
people. Reports were current that sew
eral persons had been killed. The police
and fremen took charge Of the building.
and the work Of rescue began Men were
pulled from under the debris in a terribly !
state One of the most pitiable !
sights was when Billy Helwig, the blind !
manager OF the Lamar bath house, was
.aken from the ruins. Helwig is widely
known to thousands Of visitors who visit |
he Springs annually
r. c. Chambers. one Of the proprietors |
II the Turf exchange. is one OF the lessees |
II the Fort Erie race track. His condition |
s serious. The wounded were taken IN !
'harge by the local physicians and every
hing is being done to alleviate their suf-
erings.
1t is said that a driver Of a gasoline
wagon was filling a tank in the cellar when
he explosion occurred.
The police have made a full inyestiga-
ion, and arrested Ben Murray, who is al
eyed to be responsible for the disaster in
arelessly handling the high combustible.
The bank roll Of the pool room, consist
ng Of $4,000. was blown away, but the
,reater part of 1t has been recovered