Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-11-18
MEN DREADED TO APPROACH.
They We're Fearful That the Two Big
Tanks Holding Millions Of Feet
OF Gas Would Go Oh.
FAMILIES DESERTED THEIR HOMES
Fled With What yaluables Tney Could
Sel2e--FOr Blocks Around VIM
dows We're Broken.

Chicago Nov lS-Twenty-two gas
tanks IN the big railroad gas charging
ration at Seventy-thlrd street ana
South Chicago avenue exploded today.
This afternoon eight dead bodies Of
employees had been removed from the
ruins and Il was said that about 10
more employees were missing.
The tanks were or the style attached
TO railroad cars Tor lighting purposes.
Eleven Of the tanks exploded IN rapid
succession and were followed at short
inteWale By the other tanks. The fire
spread among property Of the Peoples
Gas Light & Coke company. and
threatens to reach the large storage
tanks Of that company. Policemen
were sent about for mile radius warm
Ing people TO move from their homes
To prevent the explosion Of the gas
IN the mammoth tanks, superintendent
Ralph Wells ordered the waste pipes
opened These pipes run outside Of the
plant and IN short time the big tanks
were dlschargIug the gas Into the air
This was a dangerous undertaking. but
IN was changed and proved successful
preventing o larger destruction OF
property
Across South Chicago avenue directly
opposite the gas storage buildings was
large coal shed stored with coal used
IN the manufacture Of the gas. The
huge coal pile was ignlted and In a
few moments was beyond control.
When the danger OF the larger tanks
exploding had been reduced 70 a mini.
mum Chief Engineer Eustace with sew
eral assistants entered the grounds
and shut Off the supply pipes from the
ruined building 10 the large tanks. He
said Il was almost miraculous that the
FIRE had not entered the larger tanks
Many lives are believed TO have
been lost and number OF men
were probably fatally injured in
the explosion OF Ave small purifying
tanks leased by the Peoples Gas &
Coke company at SeYenty-fourth street
and South Chicago avenues today.
There were from 70 10 20 explosions, II
IS reported that a brick building con-
taining five tanks and twenty work
men completely collapsed. burying them
ana crushing them TO death.
The explosions were SO forceful that
for a radius OF half a mile windows
were broken and walls OF buildings
thrown out o. plumb For fear that
the explosions might continue and
cause the explosion OF the two big
tanks which hold millions OF feet OF
gas, no one would venture near the
ruins OF the plant, Calls were sent for
patrol wagons and ambulances 10 every
station on the south side and a general
alarm Of fire was sent In At the first
explosions many Of the employees m the
plant fled 10 the street They escaped
with slight Injuries. Persons living In
the vicinity deserted their homes. and
storckcepers left their stores, all fleeing
with what valuables they could seize.
one OF the Workmen after tha dsas-
ter, expressed belief that az least 20
OF his companions lost their lives.
Eight bodies have been removed from
the ruins
one victim was blown through
wall 100 feet away from the building IN
which he was ut work He was
crushed but may live.
The explosion may have been caused
by a search for leaks IN supply tanks
made by one OF tho employees.
The cause Of the rapid explosions
wus the presence Of 20 small tanks IN
the storage building These tanks were
each stored with 1850 pounds 10 the
cubic inch OF space Of powerful gas
The tanks nre used 10 place beneath
sleeping cars and other railway cars
and win supply one car with light Tor
six months The % tanks had been
charged and were IN readiness for at
tachiug to cars.
Buildings along Greenwood avenue
within q block Of the place were so
severely shaken that many will no
longer be dt for occupancy A two
story building at Seyenty-third street
and Greenwood avenue was totally
wrecked.