The San Francisco call., 1909-09-14
BOILERS EXPLODE;
TWO BADLY HURT
Tanks at the Lnrline Baths
Blow Up While Place Is
Occupied by Bathers
Engineer Buried Under Debris
and Passerby Is Hurled
Across Roadway

The temporary plant OF the Lurline
baths. Geary street near Scott. was
wrecked yesterday morning at IL
o'clock by a boiler explosion that
buried Engineer William C. Hansen in
the ruins. hurled a passerby across the
car tracks. killed horse. smashed
windows within radius OF block
and scattered flying fragments against
neighboring buildings. Hansen and
Richard Damme. baker. were seri-
ously but not. il is believed. fatally in
jured No definite cause for the acci-
dent is known.
Five bathers, four women and an
aged man. were taken from the build
ing by the iremen of engine company
SO. The women were partly disrobed
and became hystericaE The old man
asked the firemen what had happened
and when told blithely remarked:
That's nothing; I'm going to finish my
bath" He did and could not be per-
suaded by the fremen to leave until
later The names OF the women follow
Mrs Joseph Openshaw- -Phoite. 90
Falcon avenue.
Mrs. Elisa Eichler. "a Falcon avenue
Mrs. NJ F. Cairo, Sacramento. stop-
ping at Hotel Dale.
Mrs Kate Rosser. 2122 Geary street
Captain Brown OF engine company 80
found Hansen beneath the debris in the
basement nearly suffocated by steam
He sustained fracture of the right
arm. numerous contusions and lacera-
tions and possibly internal injuries
Hansen was standing over the boilers.
Nre rar.N
account for the explosion. Hansen was
later removed to ST. Winifred's hos
pital. He lives at 4 West avenue and
is 10 years of age.
Richard Damme. the injured baker.
who lives at 2570 Geary street, was
walking down town. The explosion
lifted him into the air and he landed
near the opposite curb. scalded with
hot water from the wrecked heaters
His injuries included possible frac-
ture of the skull and fractures Of two
bones in the left leg.
J. p. Vergez OF the Hayes Park laun-
dry had left his horse and buggy at
the curb near the baths while he went
into French laundry which adjoins
the Lurline plant. As he stepped out
of the laundry the front OF the bath
building few past him, a piece OF glass
cutting his cheek The horses legs
were broken. The animal had TO be
shot.
]. Urruty owns the laundry building
adjoining the Lurline plant The ad-
jacent wall was completely blown out
yesterday. leaving Urruty's structure
in a dangerous position Part of the
laundry's walls crumbled and a number
of girl workers In the place were
thrown into a panic.
Detectives Bailey and Lambert were
detailed by Captain Anderson to in
vestigate and report as to whether or
not the management has been guilty
Of criminal negligence.
Three theories are advanced to ex-
overpressure and the explosion Of gas
in the oil tanks which heated the
boilers
Flying debris that Uttered her ONCE
failed to injure Miss A. Gibson. cashier
in the baths, who was seated near the
spot where Engineer Hansen stood.
An intervening corridor saved her.
Miss Nellie Blanchard. an attendant in
the woman's department. was also un-
injured and aided in rescufng the other
women.
Employees of the baths admit that
many would have been killed had the
accident occurred in the afternoon.
when the baths on the side of the
boilers are Open They are closed
mornings.
The crash came only a few seconds
after Geary. street car No. had passed
within a few feet OF the baths on it's
way down town