The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-01
NATURAL GAS EXPLODED
Peter Heinz Is Seriously Injured at HIS
Home.

The first explosion of natural gas
which has resulted seriously since the
product has superseded the artificial
IN this city occurred at a quarter past
Peter Heinz. of PA East Eighth
street, being seriously burned and
hurt
Mr.. Heinz had gone to the third
story in the new apartment house
which he has just completed on the
lots adjoining his home place on the
east to inspect some work which had
been done on the gas fixtures by en-
ployes this morning. He opened the
door to the bath room and stepped
inside, when a heavy explosion oc-
Cured which shook the entire house
as an earthquake, and sounded as
though a cannon had been fired.
The room in which the explosion
occurred is in the rear and in the
northeast corner of the building, at the
end of a 3O-foot hall The house is
not quite completed, and though most
of the rooms on the first and second
floors are occupied by tenants, there
is but one suite OF rooms on the third
floor occupied.
Little is known as to how the ex-
plosion occurred, as Mr.. Heinz is suf-
fering intensely, even though powerful
opiates have been administered to re-
lieve him. AS near as can be learned
from his conversation, the moment
he opened the door to the bath room
and stepped inside the explosion fol-
lowed, which knocked him down and
burned his hands and face so terribly
that the skin has sloughed off. The
supposition is that he stepped on a
match. His hair and mustache are
badly singed, and his arms, neck and
shoulders bruised and burned.
All of the glass in the windows and
doors in the Immediate vicinity of the
he.
was shattered to small pieces and plate
glass quarter Of an inch IN thickness
at the end of the thirty foot hall was
smashed to small particles. Smoke
poured from the third story of the build
ing but the fire department which was
called failed to find any indications Of
fire except in a tightly rolled curtain
1 in the bath room. When the frernen
arrived they found one gas jet in the
bath room wide open and gas pouring
| into the room. This had not been .1e-
/ tected by the neighbors who had gath
cred Immediately following the explos-
! ion as the natural gas is nearly if no.
quite 0dorless.
The damage to the property will be
light and amounts to little more thar
the cost of replacing the broken glass ir
the thru story of the building. Mr.
Heinz's injuries are serious and verS
painful and will probably conhne hisf
to his room for some time to come ever
though serious complications do no.
4 arise.
DR.. D. T. Nicoll who was called, i'm
mediate1y after the explosion statet
that though Mr.. Heinz is seriousl!
burneo he is not apprehensive as to th'
ultimate result He said: THE inside
OF the mouth and lips are slightly burn
ed and Il MAJ be that some of thi
flames were inhaled which may prove t
i be a serious complication If true. Som
idea of the intensity of the heat froa
the explosion may be gained when it 1
stated that the felt hat which Mr.. Helm
was wearing at the time, was burned
to such a degree that it fell to piece
when handled. Mr.. Heinz's shirt caugh
fire in several places but the burns from
this cause are superficial"