Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-05
GAS EXPLOSION
IN PA|LA. SUBWAY
Six Persons Killed, Many More
Injured and Great Damage
Done to Property.
SOME BURIED UNDER DEBRIS.
Occurred at Corner of sixth and Mar
kct Streeis--tau>ed by De-
fectiye Mains.

Philadelphia, Oct 5.-~A terrific ex-
plosion OF Illuminating gas in the
subway OF the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company under construction
at Sixth and Market street today re-
suited in the death OF six men. the in
juring OF about a dozen others and
caused property damage that will run
into thousands Of dollars Besides
the six men known TO be dead II is
said that at least three others are
buried under tons of earth In the
wrecked subway Extraordinary ef-
forts are being made to clear the exc
cayation, but it VIII be late In the
day before this can be accomplished.
The explosion occurred shortly be-
fore I O'Clock and In consequence of
the early hour but a few workmen
had gathered The explosion was
caused by leak In a city gas main
that had been improperly repaired
last night. The escaping gas formed
IN pocket In the subway and 1t is
believed that a workman carrying
lantern into the great hole ignited the
gas. The corner of Sixth and Mar
ket streets Is one Of the busy sections
Of the city but there was fortunately
little traffic there when the explosion
occurred, About a dozen workmen
We're gathered near a large derrick
ana hNe men are believed to have
been In the subway.
The force of the explosion wrecked
the subway for half block. and all
the heavy timberlng and other struc-
tural work including tons of Garth.
fell into the excavation. heavy
rain during the night had slightly
weakened the walls Of the excavation
ana added TO the damage.
Just as the gas blew up a double
team dirt cart was being driven d.
rectly across the covered subway by a
driver of the Millard Construction
company, which is building the subway.
The vehicle, horses and man were
blown high in the air and the horses
and cars fell into the hole. The driver
landed In the street and was only
slightly hurt Several OF the worSmen
who were standing near the derrick
were blown across the street and in
jured and number OF pedestrians
were hurt by falling glass and signs
from the tall business houses on both
sides of Market and Sixth streets.
The portions OF the subway that were
not covered with dirt burst into flames
and for time no person dared venture
| near the place for fear OF further ex-
| plosons. Firemen were soon on the
| spot but 1t was of little use owing ia
the fact that the flames were shooting
from the gasnipe and a large gas main
Dirt was then resorted to and In the
| course of a couple of hours all the
flames had been extingulshed except
those from the large main. This was
not put out until nearly 10 o'clock and
only after large pit had been dug In
the street near the subway and the
| main plugged up. As soon as the fire
| had been eXtinRuished and all danger
OF further explosion had passed hum
| dreds OF men We're put to work cleaTt z
| out the wrecked subway.
While the damage done TO the sub
way, to the city's gas and water mains
and the electric light and telephone
| conduits is considerable II will not
compare with the destruction wrought
TO surrounding property From First
street to Seventh street on Market
street and for half square on Sixth
street both north and south of Market
street not whole pane OF glass IL left
| All the large plate glass windows were
| broken and thousands of dollars worth
OF goods In the show windows were
| damaged. Dozens OF signs We're torn
| from the roofs and walls of buildings
and It is considered remarkable that
| not more persons were killed The vi =
entity OF the explosion is roped off and
! business within the affected area was
temporarily suspended