Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-31
Mrs. Minnie LotSpeiCh Loses
Part of Right Hand and Pos
SibIy EyeSight---MrS. JeS-
sic LotSpeich Bruised
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
CAUSED BY FREEZE
Neglected to Turn Off Water.
Both Standing Close When
Heater Blew Up---NarroW
Escape From Death

AS a result OF the explosion of a gas
water-heater at 1893 Glennwood avenue
about o'clock Thursday morning, Mrs.
and part of her right hand possibly her
eyesight, and is otherwise painfully
burned and bruised.
Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Jessie Lotspeich,
sustained a cut in the right side from
flying fragment Of the heater, and a Sc
we're nervous shock.
Wednesday night the servant failed to
shut of the water, and ice in the pipes is
thought TO have caused the explosion.
Breakfast was just started Thursday
morning when Mrs. Minnie Lotspeich
lighted the heater. In a few moments it
began to act queerly, and Mrs. Lotspeich
went over to examine it. About that time
her sister-in-law came into the kitchen,
and together they tried to find what was
wrong. They noticed that one Of the pipes
was almost red hot, while another very
close to it was icy cold. They decided that
the cold pipe was frozen, and were about
to turn of the gas when the tank blew
up.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
1t was a terrific explosion. The ladies
were blinded and dazed. and Mrs. Lot
speich was hurled halfway across the
room. Mrs. Jessie Lotspeich, standing on
the opposite side OF the heater. escaped
he flash, but was rendered almost in
sensible by the shock. The first report
was followed by a second, then a third,
and finally a fourth, not quite so loud.
Naf I'd ha nd na1
i'm from all sides. One of the. first TO
arrive was Roscoe Black, closely followed
by w. G. Counts. AS they entered the
kitchen they beheld frightful spectacle.
Mrs. Minnie Lotspeich, suffering the most
circulating pain from her burns, leaned
sgainst a wall near the tank, all but I'M
conscious and too weak to move. Her
sister-in-lsw. who had pulled herself to-
gether with mighty EFFORT, was already
doing what she could to administer re-
lief. DR.. J. w. Mitchell was hastily sum-
moned and arrived I'm a few minutes He
remained at the house two hours or more.
TERRIBLY BURNED.
Mrs Minnie Isotspeich was terribly
burned about the head and face, on the
right side The skin was scorched and
bfScked and filled with fine particles of
rust and iron. 1t is feared that she will
lose her right eye. Her right hama was
burned and IaceTated. and IL was neces-
sarv to take of the little finger and a
portion of the hand. Her right knee was
painfully confused.
BY a mere chance, Mrs. Jessie Lotspeich
escaped serious injury. She was standing
on the opposite side of the heater and
missed the full force of the explosion. A
piece OF flying metal struck her in the
side. infiicting a deep cut, but otherwise
she was unhurt, except the nervous
shock.
HEATER DEMOLISHED
So great was the force of the explosion
that the heater was torn to small frag-
ments and scattered all over the room.
CmpIete havoc was wrought i'm the
kitchen Window glasses were shatter-
ed. and hole as big as a mans hat
was blown through the floor. Practically
every pipe connection on the heater and
the tank was wrenched off. and pieces OF
pipe were strewn broadcast. A can OF
condensed milk near the heater was
blown into atoms and the cream smear
ed over half that side of the room Only
good luck saved the ladies from fatal
injuries.
BOTH HUSBANDS AWAY.
Mrs Minnie Lotspeich is the wife of w
! w Lotspeich, an electrical contractor
formed OF the accident by telegraph, and
is expected Thursday afternoon. His
brother, G. Il. Lotspeich, is the husba nd
OF Mrs Jessie Lotspeich. He is now al
Asheville, n. c.