The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-29
ONE LIFE
LOST IN GAS
EXPLOSION.

shortiv before O'Clock. yesterday at
..rroon a gas explosion occurred in the
vary heart of the city whereby one man
lest his life. another was severely hure'
and considerable damage done 10 prop
erty in the vicinity.
Tha scene of the accident which re-
.rItea IN a fatality was Lonsdale street
which runs from North Main 10 Cahai
street. and the victim was Edward Cuii'
A wears OF age. who leaves a widow ana
two small children.
DIR. George w. Gardner ana otheF
tanants in the vicinity had made com
plaints to the Providence Gas company
.arlv In the week ana temporarily the
dsfart was remedied. But the insistent
ans tnsidtous gas made itself felt again
vesterday afternoon and gang Oh
wor,urnen was sent TO locate ana stop
the leak. ,.,.
Michael Burns. a resident OF Transit
straet was in charge and the workmen
were Edward Gull OF Blackstone street
Michael Reynolds OF Plain sUeet, h>u-
ward McCaughey of Bay street THOMAS
Killooley of Bishop street and Fasquaie
Noetto OF Dandy street.
They had drilled down through the
concrete sidewalk near the doorsteps at
Ss Isonsdale street and, as as the usual
custom. one OF the workmen, Monetto'
ughted a match TO see IL there was sur
fcient gas TO burn. That there was, goes
beyond question for escaping gas that
had packed a rain conduit was ignited
and a terrific explosion followed
Gull and Reynolds were hurled ais
tance OF % feet across the street whiie
the other workmen had a narrow escape
nVlnR
was all over in second. Cull was
ntcked no unconscious and carried into
DIR. Gardeners office, where he died In
ave minutes. Reynolds had one leg
BADLY bruised. while the other workmen
were considerably shaken UP and badly
frightened
The lo-pound sledge handled by Gun.
new a distance OF 80 feet and through,
fortunately the window OF an unoccupied
room In the Wayiand building in which
several windows. as We'll as In the house
opposite we're shattered. Two blinds on
the Lcnsdale block, which was shaken
40 its foundation, were blown from their
fastenings and reduced to kindling wood,
while sections Of concrete and brick flew
in every direction.
Can't. Lawrence was soon on the scene,
accompanied by Lieut.. Stone and Patrol
men Feeley and Moffltt. The captain
notified Me11cal Examiner Geikins WIN
responded promptly and found that Cun 6
skull had been crushed, left leg fractured
and multiple bruises.
The body was claimed by a brother OF
the unfortunate man and turned over to
him to have prepared for burial.
Mrs Edith Hardman, 26 Ionsdale
street who has the care OF the Ions
dale block, was looking ont of her win
dow on the third floor when the accident
happened. She said: II Mad been watch
ing the men at work for some little
time. Two OF them tCull and Reynolds)
seemed TO be bending over the sidewalk
working with hammers and drills when
another came up. did not see what he
did. but a second later, at $3.50 o'clock
there was a loud explosion, and two OF
the men were blown across the street
while pieces of concrete and bricks and
stones few Ell about. ] thought at first
that the whole building was coming down
II shook So" Reynolds description OF
the accident was similar. and Its cause
corrcborated later by an inspector of the
gas company.