Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-08
GAS EXPLOSION
Kills Two People and Wrecks
Store at Montague.
Five Others Injured and Several
Thought to Be Buried in Ruins.
Girl Caught Between Counter and Wall
and Burned to Death.

-'i'Alt't 5u', ht., jan. g. ne store
ana home above it Of James and
Thomas Cl"ary was blown to pieces
today, BY gas explosion in the base
!n"nt. Two persons We're killed, five
others severely injured. while a score
Of persons on the main street sustained
cuts from flying glass. James Cleary,
who WAS in the basement, was burned
TO death. while Miss Ncttia Platt. a
"!"rl, was caught in the ruins and suf-
frI,i a similar fate.
The escape Of Thomas Cleary. who
was III the store at the time, and Of
his mother. Mrs. James Clcary, ana hel.
baby. James Narney and Robert Clan
cy, MI of whom We're in the rooms
above the store. WAS almost miraculous.
Those in the rooms above Were
hurled with terrific force into the SNOW
outside III" building and the elder Mrs.
Cleary WAS severely il not fatally in
jured. Mr.. Narney had his arm badly
cut. ana Mr. Clancy had 4 dislocated
leg ana arm. but neither Mrs. james
Cleary Eor ier baby We're injured.
Thomas Cleary. who was in the front
of til" store ut the time. was blown into
the street ana badly bruised about the
| head ana shoulders, ana. tonight he is
. out of his head. Gordon Mckay, who
was passing at the time. was also badly
bruised about the head and shoulders
/ by flying tinibers.
+ The force Of the explosion hurled
/ some Of the pieces OF the building Il
/ distance Of 4 quarter Of a mile ami
biok" ,llss in nearly every house in
toH1l.
The explosion occurred about 4 p
! NJ, anl is believed to have orcurrcl
Will" james Cleury was arranging the
Gas machine for the night. He wa :;
! down stairs at the time and on the
( ground floor WIS his brother, Thomas
| tlcary. and the clerk. Miss Plltt So
| far rs known there was no nth,r pr
/ An IN that part Of the building when
\ tnr explosion occurred. bus the fiji. :
4 m,n vii! make " thorough CXa,nina-
4 ton Of the ruins, tomorrow, ftr any
tr;.," ii more bodies II i btlirvpi
+ ji;.t tn" BODY Of Jrnos t'icary was
. consumed. The ruins t.oll fire ulmo:t
/ iumeiiItely and burned with great
( i..i'y"ncSS.
/ Miss P.att WAS caught between the
counter and Z heavy wall. and white til"
4 fir.ncn were able to ct near enough -
\ grasp hcr hand. they could not ont hrT
uut rrum the timbor.; which pinned Enr
4 lr.,n hriore Tho flames drove them back.
\ Ii,r pl,ldings to DC saved were heart
r,.ndir4
Ii."-,' who first reached til" scene Of
TIN explosion found Thomas ClHary ly:"2
i'm jhr street in front uf his store. Iii;
mutl,r his htCthcr's wife and baby and
NJ. Nar,cy and NJ. Clancy on the sHo;?
h,.s.d. the demolished building. Thorn
CIrily WAS Llcr,:in., from several wounl
..l,.;;t the bead while his mother VA
struggling ana Gr"Aning on tn" STOW
\ Nciilrr Mr.. NIrn"y n-r Mr. Clancy Wn~
( :ti,l, a. move Hut M!E. James tirHrN H'ui
l.. baby v.rr soon assist a to 4 n.iIi!-
hurir" i:nusc, apparently uninjurd-
T.. this Jim" lin. mass Of ruins WA i.
t'.int,s. but tn. fIr' nru had l"ctt ri Nj
I'l.t; bv H. screams. y sc"r" of nlcn 1T
o,.c.. attacked tndt portion OF til" riIi"+
| IN. worked iIstntictllY in tn" hop" Il
!, ling tn" woman. bat "cr" forced a
~.4 her harmed to death.
N~. Mckay was blown nearly aero
| tin, sire. hv the force Of the cXplo~i1l
#rd was also assisted I" q noiGhbnrli!H
| huuac.
INV less than fyr horses. which w"r'
| sanding in tn street ~ IN" time. I.tt
AWAY, tut fortunately mono wtS MUIR y
! although on of the horses ram INTO 4
ti.., ANA WAS killed.
The building WAS somewhat iS0Lltod. -
| tlat tiic flames did not communicate Il
any other prop, rtN. The ticarN HrO:Er. 5
,;.:riri Il heavy stock of millinery goods
u.s. W, II as a variety IF merchandise, an
fh, Joss on III" building ana its contents
i estimated at $25.'"l.