The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-14
THEY ASk$22,OOO
Victims of Seventh Street Cis-
tern Explosion Ask Damages.
Send Their Petitions to Board
of City Commissioners.
UP TO GAS COMPANY,
City Officials Believe Matter
Will Be Referred to Others.
Street Commissioner Frank
Snyder Would Have $4,000.

Topeka is facing a $4,000 damage
suit
The four of the five men who sur
vived the Seventh street fire cistern ex-
plosion in December have fled with the
city clerk their claims which reach the
above amount.
Street Commissioner Frank Snyder.
who left the hospital few days ago,
asks for $4,000. Engineer E. L. Rob
inson. of the fire department, asks So
600. A. T. Potts, a member of the
street department, asks $4,000, and Chas.
Winburn, another member of the street
department, asks $1,000.
The claims were taken up with the
board Of city commissioners this morn
ing but very little discussion followed.
1t is a touchy matter at this time, es-
peciaIly since the fault of the explosion
lies between the gas company and the
city, and the city commissioners are
going slowly. Commissioner Bone will
handle the matter temporarily.
1t is thought by the city officials that
the suit should really be taken up with
the Consumers Light. Heat & Power
company. 1t has been proved conclus-
lively that the leakage in the fire els
tern which caused the explosion came
from bad breaks in the gas mains in
the vicinity of Seventh street and Kan
sas avenue. Excavations following the
pipes, and leaky mains.
The petition of Street Commissioner
Snyder to the board of commissioners
is representative Of the three other
damage notices filed. Mr.. Snyder suf-
fered more than any Of the other men
and was burned more severely. He did
not return to his home from the hos
pital until a few days ago and il will
be necessary for him to return again
for surgical operations on his eyes.
which have been drawn upward through
the lack OF skin which was burned at
the explosion of the cistern-
In his petition Mr.. Snyder claims that
his face, neck, ears. head, limbs, eyes,
ously burned: that his hair and eye
brows were burned away: that the flesh
dropped from his face and several
parts of his body; that his eyes are
seriously and permanently injured;
that his throat and mouth were injured
inhalinG the deadly fumes; that his
hands were almost made useless, the
tendonS drawn up and the nails fall
ing from the fingers: that he was in
the hospital for over 16 weeks; that he
has been unable to work and will be
unable to work for a long time to come;
that his nervous system was badly in
jured and that he will be disabled the
rest of his life.
This is a long list of injuries and are
representatives of great and excruciat-
ing pain and mental anguish. Mr.. Sny-
der is barely able to get around and is
in a very serious condition at this time
Although Commissioner Bone and
City Attorney Ralston will have moth
ing to say concerning the probable ac-
ton taken by the city it is understood
that the city will in turn sue the gas
company Tor the damages done to the
employees.
The other men are out and at their
duties once more.
The gas explosion occurred December
IA, 1909, between Kansas avenue and
jackson street on Seventh street. A
huge fire cistern had been emptied and
under the orders of the city the street
commissioner and four men were in
side the cistern cleaning the cement
from the walls preparing to repair the
leaks. 1t was known at the time that
the cistern leaked and gas had been
found there by Engineer Robinson.
From some Unknown cause the gas
was ignited while the men were in the
cistern and a terrific explosion follow
ed which shook the whole business dis
trict of Topeka. Five men burning,
bleeding and with flesh falling from
their bodies emerged from the cistern
One of them, Claude Fenson, died
few days after the accident. The other
men have since recovered sufficiently to
leave the hospital.