Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-08
GASOLINE ENDS
ONE MORE LIFE
GEORGE ST. CLAIR DEAD AS
RESULT OF INJURIES
Fred G. Hilton Also Seriously Burned
In Explosion of Torch in Tunnel
Under Wright & Calender
Building

George st. Clair, 35 years old, a
steamhtter's helper, living at Holly
wood, was burned fatally and Fred G.
Hilton, a steamfitter, of the Columbia
hotel, was burned seriously yesterday
afternoon when a gasoline blow torch
with which they were soldering joints
in a tunnel under the sidewalk at the
Wright & Calender building at Fourth
and Hill streets. exploded and threw
the burning liquid on them.
st. Clair was taken to the Sisters
hospital, where he died at $3.50 o'clock
last evening.
The men, with Mexican laborcr,
were employed by J. E. Connell, con-
suIting engineer of 1926 Stimson build
ing, and were engaged in repairing
steam pipes which are laid in the tun-
mel which connects the Byrne building
at Fourth street and Broadway with
the Wright & Calender building
They were working near the center
of the tunnel and were using the blow
torch to melt the solder with which
they were sealing the connections. st.
Clair was attending to the torch and
preparing the solder for Hilton, who,
assisted by the Mexican, was forming
the connections.
EnVeloped by Flames
While the workmen were thus en-
gagged the torch began to leak and the
gasoline dripped from the tank and
ran on the ground. Suddenly there
was an explosion and the blazing oil
was thrown over st. Clair, covering
him in a sheet of flame from head to
foot.
Hilton, who was short distance
away, with his back turned toward the
torch, was sprinkled on the back and
arms with the burning oil. He was on
the opposite side of the torch from st.
Clair and, quickly tearing off his burn
ing clothing, ran toward the Grant
building entrance of the tunnel and
was given medical attention.
St. Clair, his face, neck and arms
terribly blistered and his clothing
ablaze, ran to the Wright & Calender
building and fell to the floor in the
engine room.
The sudden appearance of a human
torch startled the engineers, but they
recovered quickly, and F. c. Patter-
son. chief engineer, and c. E. Davis,
assistant engineer, rushed to the as
sistance of the unfortunate man and
beat out the fire.
EIQnIS WCTG ENtlHSuISIS0
The flames from the blazing gasoline
reached the insulated wires in the tun-
mel and burned them through, throwing
the tunnel in darkness.
The police and fire departments were
notified and the ambulance responded
and took st. Clair to the receiving hos
pital. A chemical engine appeared and
firemen with hand apparatus entered
the tunnel and extinguished the fire,
which had almost burned out after
causing but slight damage.
The Mexican was uninjured and fled
towards the Byrne building entrance.
Several persons in the latter building
ATTEMPTED to stop him and ascertain
the cause of his fright, but he pushed
them aside and continued on his way,
and so far has not been located.
st. Clair did not lose consciousness.
When he arrived at the receiving hos
pital, although suffering terrible agony
from his burns, he was able to give his
name and age. He did not finch
while the burned parts of his clothing
were being removed by the police sur
geons, and when a piece of charred
cloth was being taken from the blis-
tered flesh would raise his head and
look at the injured part and remark
TO the surgeon:
'"That is not so bad, is it, doctor?"
His remarkable fortitude was the
subject of comment by the hospital at
tendants, and his unusual cheerful
ness, in spite of his being blistered
from head to foot, is one of the most
unusual cases in the annals of the re-
ceiving hospital.
After he was swathed from head to
foot in oiled dressings st. Clair was
removed to the Sisters hospital, where
- l;o5 Of 40 o'clock.
Hilton was treated by Dr. c. W.
Seeber, who has offices in the Wright
& Calender building. He was burned
ON the back, neck and arms, but his
condition is not serious and he viii re-
cover.
The Mexican so far as can be
learned, was not injured-only fright
ened.