Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-04-05

cial. Joseph Hemeta, 314S Center street
was killed and Arthur L. Judge was bad
ly injured in an explosion of an acetylene
gas plant III the basement Of the building
on the northwest corner of River and
Martin streets at II 30 o'clock this morn
ing The building which is a one-story
structae was badly damaged, the entire
front and side being demolished.
Explosion in Light Works.
The explosion occurred in the offices of
the Avery Portable Lighting company
which occupies the basement of the
building. Hemeta and Judge were with
in a few feet Of the explosion when it
occurred and were terribly burned They
were taken to the Emergency hospital.
Chauffeur Cut by Glass.
John Harrison, Isaac Anderson and
Arthur Kaester were in the office at the
time. Harrison being slightly injured
and the other two escaping unhurt. T..
G. Avery. the proprietor of the eStab-
lishment. was standing on the sidewalk
with his chauffeur, Herbert White, who
was struck by flying glass and cut about
the head and arms.
The upper part of the building IS oc-
cupied by The Bonanza" saloon. W..
A. Wepccr, Max GuhI and the bartender,
Charles Specs, were the only ones in the
place when the explosion happened, all
but Specs escaping uninjured Specs
was slightly hurt.
Conclusion Heard for Blocks.
The explosion could be heard for
blocks, and the conclusion in the neigh
bOrhOod was so great that large win
dows in the buildings across the street
were shattered. Witnesses state that q
huge sheet Of flame swept across Mar
tin street.
The fixtures in the saloon and all of
the furniture were practically demOl-
ished. The offices of the lighting com,
pany below were also wrecked
Men Blown Through Windows.
Specs and Wepser were blown through
one of the windows by the force of the
explosion. Specs ran back into the base
ment, and, with several others, assisted
in reScuing Hemeta and Judge who's
clothing had caught fire.
An examination Of Hemeta's injurici
this noon showed that he had no chance
of recovery while little hope was Cntcri
tanned for Judge.
Used Torch on Tank.
By some mistake or in Ignorance
Hemeta had taken up a charged acety-
lene tank and was using Il blast torch on
it. The gas became heated and rose to
a tremendous pressure. When the tank
could stand no more it burst and Hemeta
who was bending over it was badly
crushed and burned. He was thrown
with great violence against the east
wall of the building, and Arthur Judge
who was also working near the cast end
of the building within a few feet OF
Hemeta was thrown against the north
wall.
Supt John Harrison was working in
the middle of the basement and the force
Of tho py-nIoSipn 1pTipH him for Fifty feet
against the wall. Harrison immediate
ly turned his attention to his companions
and. rushing over, found them both ly-
ing ON the floor with their clothes Il mass
of flames. He tried to eXtinguiSh the
flames and reach the door with one Of
biSh had been blown against the door
and he could not get out. His left hand
was badly burned while trying to OK
tinguish the flames.
Judge Pinned in Corner.
Judge was pinned in one corner near
the basement entrance on River street
by timbCrs and wire and his clothes were
almost entirely burned off his body be
fore help from the outside could reach
him.
George Duffy. known as "Young'
Duffy, Il pugilist, Charles Specs. the bar
tender who with Max Guhl were blown
out through the front of the building,
Immediately rushed to the aid of the men
in the basement and with Il. w Seefcld.
paSSeT-by, they succeeded after Il Strug
gle in breaking aside the barrier i'll front
of the door and carried Judge outside
where Il police ambulance was waiting
Hemeta was also taken to 4 patrol waS
on aud hurried to the Emergency hos
pital.
The entire force of the explosion was
expended along the front of the building
and very little fire followed. The ire
department arrived on the scene and the
firemen under the direction of Chief
Clancy helped in carrying the men to
Chc patrol wagons
Building Owned by DR.. Lang.
Hundreds of charged tanks lay in the
basement within ten feet of the place
where the tank exploded, but none of
them was moved.
The building which is owned by DR.
Lang, Walnut street, is damaged to the
extent of $500.
thousands of our tanks are in use
and we never had an explosion" said
p c. Avery And the accident
could only have occurred through gross
carelessness on the part of Hemeta in di-
rect disregard of his positive instructions
not to work on a loaded tank
Few people We're passing at the time,
and no one was near the front of the
building with the exception of Mr.. Avery
and his chauffeur
Herbert Witte and John Harrison were
taken to hospital for treatment