Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-19
GIRLS BURNED
IN EXPLOSION
SIX YOUNG WOMEN SERIOUSLY
INJURED BY FLAMES
GUNcoTToN EXPLoDEs IN DRUG
coMPANY's LABORATORY
Material Used In Manufacture OF Col
Iodion Blows Up and Six Em-
pIoyes Hurt Painfully,
but Will Recover

Six girls were burned painfully yes
terday morning when case Of pre-
pared guncotton, used for the manu-
tacture of collodion, exploded i'll tho
laboratory of the Western Drug COM
pany at 237 South Los Angeles street
and sent a sheet of flame thirty feet
across the room where the young Won-
en- were wrapping bottles.
The occupants of the room had no
chance to escape, and with the eXcep-
tion of a slight report there was no
warning. The girls-twelve in number
were working at three tables when
the explosion occurred. Those VINO
were nearest the shelf on which the
guncotton was stored were those most
severely burned.
The flames soon spread to the paper
on the nearest table and were commu-
nicated to the other two tables, Gre
ating great excitement, during which
the girls became almost hysterical and
rushed frantically from the room.
Other employees rushed to the assist
ance of the injured girls and the fire
department and the police were noti-
fed. Before the arrival of either de-
partment the flames were eXtinguished
by the employees, who prevented the
fire from spreading to other parts Of
the building
The police ambulance arrived and
four of the injured girls were taken to
the receiving hospital. The other two,
rot being burned severely, were treated
at the establishment
May Trierweiler, II years old, of 1856
East Thirty-seventh street, was the
most seriously injured, suffering burns
on the back of her neck, the top of
her head and on both arms and hands.
Agnes Breen. Is years old, of 1920
South Hope street, sustained burns on
the back of her left hand, and Marie
Durfee, 16 years old, living at SS1
right hand and arm and on the left
elbow.
Burned on Left Arm
Aletha Farmer, 10 years old, of ASS
East Thirty-eighth street, was burned
on the left arm and suffered minor
bruises about the legs and body when
she fell down a flight of stairs in her
endeavor to escape from the burning
room.
After being treated by the police sur
geons the young women were able to
return to their homes without assist
ance.
Frances Lord of 621 Heliotrope drive
was burned on the right hand and on
the face and Marguerite McEatheren
suffered burns on the left hand. They
considered their injuries of slight i'm
portance and refused to go to the re-
ceiving hospital.
According to H. M. Sale, president of
the company, the cotton is shipped
from the east to them under govern
ment regulations. 1t is packed in
solution and is dried out here before
being made into collodion, which is
done by dissolving it in ether.
Recently, he said, the material did
not seem to give the best results and
he attributed this to the fact it had
not been entirely freed from nitric
acid, with which the cotton is pre-
pared. He suggested the explosion oc-
CURED probably because of the nitric
acid in the cotton generating gases,
resulting in decomposition and causing
the explosion.
Ordinarily the cotton, it is said, may
be baked in an oven without fear of
an explosion.