Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-20
POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYE
BADLY BURNED IN GAS EXPLO-
SION IN SEWER.
BLAZE ENVELOPES THE BODY.
Five Companions Thrown to Ground by
Terrific Force-Injured Man
VIII Recover.
CAUSE OF ACCIDENT A MlorERY

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Nov. 10, 1908.
in an explosion Of sewer gas in a
manholc at Island avenue and Walnut
street this morning, Albert Blundell,
aged %, lineman employed in the po-
lice department telegraph system, and
residing at 1913 Thirteenth street, was
burned about the face and legs. Five
other employees were thrown to the
ground by the shock of the explosion,
but escaped serious injury.
With a roar that could be heard for
several blocks. and created a furore
Of excitement in the ncighborhood, the
gas exploded when Blundel lifted the
cover from the manhole. Accompany
ing the terrific roar was a sheet Of
flame - feet in height. This swept
Blundel from head to foot, but his
clothing protected most of his body
Blundell was bending over the manholc
when the tongue Of flames shot upward
and caught him almost full in the face
The whole upper portion Of his body
was enveloped.
Companions Give Aid
When Blundell's companions recovered
from the shock, they cxtingushed the
blazing clothes of their companion and
took immediate steps to give him medical
attendance. BlundelI was taken to the
Emergency hospital, ana later to his
home. The physicians believe he will re
cover. The burns are exceedingly pain
full The other men returned to work.
Explosion Is Mystery.
The gang Of six was employed in in
specting the manholes, pending the APP
proach Of winter. In this work, it is
necessary to examine each carefully, and
prepare for the snow and spring thaw.
How the explosion occurred is a mystery
10 the men. They believe sewer gas col
lected and an electrical connection
formed a spark igniting it, or spark
may have been communicated to the gas
just as Blundell lifted the manhole cover.
How the gas collected in the manhole,
located on the top of a hill, also is UNI
explainable.
Companions Save Workman.
Blundell stood Immediately over the
hole and opened the cover" said G.
SchIinsock, one of the gang of workmen
employed as telegraph lineman by the
police department. The moment he did
50 q flash of flame came through the
opening, setting fire TO Blundell's shirt,
collar and tie, ard burning and blistering
his face and hands. There was a re
port and crowds came running to the
scene. Hugo Poth, another of our men,
was only two feet away and jumped
back quickly to escape the blast. He
and the rest of us ran TO help Blundell
and eXtinguished the blaze on his cloth
ing. Then we telephoned for the am
bulance and had him taken to the hos
pital. The cause of the explosion was,
no doubt, the accumulation Of gas from
II leaking gas main in the tunnel.
Gas Fills Manholes.
-Four years ago the gas company
searched for a leak in that neighborhood
for three weeks, without results, and
ever since, the manholes III that vicinity
have become filed with gas at intervals"
Other members of the party of work
men were Hugo Kleinsteuber assistant
chief electrician; Carl Dietsch and
Judge Braden. None of the others were
caught III the blast and continued the
work of extending the cable telegraph
system Of the police department in that
vicinity.