The evening world., 1903-09-29
Explosion ofGas on Ninth Floor
Of the Imperial HurIs Work
men About, Killing One and
lnjuring Three.
PANIC AMONG GUESTS
WHO RUSHED TO STREET.
Wreckage Blown Into the New
and Unoccupied Addition and
Z None Of the Patrons Was
Hurt.

One man was killed n three others
seriously hurt In a terrific explosion on
the ninth floor OF the Imperial Hotel this
afternoon.
Panic among the hundreds OF guests
. in the place was barely averted.
The explosion took place on the floor
4 where an, opening was being cut through
into the new n~inetcen-story addition,
which has lust been completed.
The odor OF escaping gas on the
tenth floor of tine main building was
so strong all morning that the men who
were cutting the opening through had
to work In relays.
Henry Butt, the hotel electrician, was
sent up to locate the trouble.
shook Whole Building.
Whether a lighted match or candle or
. spark from an electric light wire was
the cause a terrible explosion, which
seemed to shake the entire structure to
the foundation. followed in a few mo-
ments after Butt began his work. None
OF the score OF men at work there q-e
able to tell what did cause the oxplo-
sion.
Guests ran IN fright TO the street ana
tdAAb htIt StHl OUT HuTIleull IOT tnt
police reserves n ambulances. The
police found, when they Were able to
make their way to the floor. that james
Owens. a plnsterer. of one HUNDRED AMI
Twenty-lrst street and Eighth avenue,
had been Instantly killed. His body
was crushed almost beyond recognition.
Butt was unconscious. He was hurt
internally. Another plasterer. James
McCabc. OF No. 400 West Twenty-fourth
street. had his right leg broken and
may nave internal injuries.
John Lebrettos. Il laborer, of No. 20
East One Hundred and Ninth street,
suffered a compound fracture OF the
right leg and other injuries which may
DO fatal.
Followed by Fire.
The fire that followed was put ont
easily. Tho damage in all will amount
to several thousands OF dollars. The
entire top of the main building. known
as the tent house. was demolished.
The ceiling OF the ninth floor. directly
below. was blown out and pnn eatire
fioor practically wrecked. The new add
ton was not much damaged.
IL Is believed that tleye was Il leak In
the gas main on a lower floor and that
the gas accumulated hetween the collin,
of the ninth loor and the foundations of
the tenth.
Pieces OF debris were hurled down tie
mir chart between ;le two structures.
breaking many windows aud adding 10
the pahic or the guests. who were hurry.
Ing out OF the hotcl, fearing that tho
whole edllice was nlnut TO collapse. The
explosion was 40 loud that Il VAS heard
beyond Forty-seeond street and Twenty
third street.
While the crowi was Aeeiag from
the hotel an awning on tho second
floor of the Broadway side caught fire.
adding to the excitement. 1t was put out
ny a chambermaid. who had not been
frightened as much as the others and
who had como through the hail. try
ing 10. quiet The guests and assure
them that there was no cause for Sc
rious alarm.
she calmly poured q pitcher or water
ing manv OF the crowd which mad gath
plauded roundiy.
After the excitement had slb.idel
somewhat 1t was found that several
'ther of the plesterars and labnrers had
teen hurt n the explosion. They had
been blown about and hurt by the fy-
ing debris, None was seriously hurt and
none other had to he sent to hospitals.
Cannot Explain Explosion.
Foreman Macdonald in charge of tho
york. said he could ascrlbe no cause FOR
the explosion.
IA gas leak has been known for sew
eral days" he said out we could not
locate the trouble: There were no naked
lights used by the several electricians
who were at work;
The force OF the eXplosion wa. up-
ward and into the new annexl All
the wall was blown into the unoccupieJ
part. thus preventing an even greater
disaster PERHAPS
Capt.. Burrcind. OF the Tenderlo,n
police. made an investigation tftcr yari
out said that he could not Ak the re-
s~ponsibn!ty. He said TINT Il he could
place the blame no would MAKE an ar.
rest.
Mccabe and Lebrettes were taIkon n
New York Hospital. It was said there
later that they both ,wonld probably get
well. unless It was that they We're hurt
Internally. ~