The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-04-11
INJURED MAN DECLARES
IT'S ALL A MYSTERY
TO HIM
IS POSITIVE, HOWEVER,
Not Caused by Artificial
Gas or Gasoline.

In CONVEX sdf'1n with callers ., the
hospial where he Is confined Oh ac-
count of the serious injuries received
in Sundays explosion Roy Waugh Is
emphatic in his declaration that the
explosion was caused neither by gaso-
line or artificial gas. Had II been
from either of these causes ! surely
would have detected the odor Meth
er had | been experimenting with ex-
plosives such as dynamite or nitro
glycerine, as has been stated It IS
all mystery to me.
The statement Is also wrong he
continued. that ] struck a match to
light my cigar, which caused the ex-
posion. As matter of fact | had
lighted the cigar in the store where
| purchased Il"
The committee composed of Fire
Chief Gruber. Chief of Police Gates
end Water Commissioner Spencer,
appointed by Mayor Duke to investi-
gate the cause of Sundays explosion
in the Turner bvilding. on West Har-
rlson avenue. have reached no con
clusion and are not ready to make "A
report on the matter, after searching
all day yesterday underneath the
building and carefully examining the
premises for evidence in the matter.
Roth Chief Gruber and Chief Gates
believe 1t was the artificial gas that
caused the disaster, but sre not GER
tain II was the cause. Water Com
missioner Spencer contends that II
was the gasoline fumes that did the
work
A new theory has developed, how
over which may lead to the solution
of the problem as 1t is the most plaus
able theory that has so far been ad
vanced. About five or six years ago
the Turner bgiilding was fitted up
and used for restaurant Purposes. Mr.
Campbell ran 1t year or more, sell
ing out to Mr. Matchett who used II
Until he erected the building, in 1902
which he now occupies. At the back
end of the Turner building was built
large cess pool to drain the water
from the restaurant. This cess poo
has never been cleaned or used since
hat time and It is possible thai
sewer gas accumulated in this pool
The lay Of the ground Is lower &c
wards the front OF the building and
the gas materially would settle nesr
the front, so when the building haf
been closed twenty-four hours with
out any way for the gas to escape .
became ignited from Mr. WaUgh';
cigar when he went In at noon, carS
Ing the explosion. This theory is Civ
cu additional credence becarse of 9
statement by Mr. Waugh that the ex
plosion was not caused from the easo
line, the gasoline lights. or the arti
fetal gas IN his opinion.
Mr. Matchctt says that Saturda.
night he smelt peculiar odor like
gas and MIR. Olsmith. whose store /
in the same vicinity, makes a similal
statement
Fire insurance men are of the opln
ion that the policies do not cover th'
damage done to stock by the eXplo
sion. but only to the extent of the fir
damage. n this be true, Mr.. Waugl
will suffer a heavy loss, besides hi
personal injuries. ne is gettinf
stronger daily and there is hope o
saving his left leg, although IN
chances seem very much against 1t.
The Grand Leaders new windoN
of corsets hosiery and knit underwea
not only shows Mr. cussen's ability
but some big tempting mcrckandis
from these strong departments OF tn