The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-20

ward into the shops. sucked into the
street, or cut TO ribbons by flying glass
Whole fronts of buildings were left
without a window. As nearly as can
be determined, this is how the accident
occurred:
A train of empty passenger cars
hauled by an electric motor, in charge
Of Albert Segarrat. got out of con
troll. crashed into steel and concrete
botfer post. snapped it off, and rammcd
a pile of lumber behind it into a gas
main connecting with the taps from
which the gas tanks of the passenger
cars are charged. BY the testimony of
the motormaD and of John j. Quinn, a
bricklayer working on the main power
house adjoining the auxiliary house. the
time Of the break in the pipe was about
8 o clock, Two clocks stopped bv the
jar fix the time of the explosion itself
at Ss22.
In the interval, the broken main
had ample time 10 pour high-pressurc
gas into the lower levels of the aux
iliary power house.
Flash From Third Rail.
When workmen set TO clearing away
tho lumber, it is assumed that one of
them dropped a steel tool across the
third rail, there was a flash of cIcc-
tricity and the great reservoir of ac-
cumula'ed gas exploded.
What happened then will never be
adequately known. The roof of fire
house No ., directly across the street
from the power house, lifted like q
! magic carpet A shower of glass,
bricks, mortar and splintered timbers
began 10 fall on the payements, and
in an instant the streets were filled
with PROSTATE men and women blown
flat bv the shock and the rush of The
air. They sat dazed where they fell.
picking slivers from their flesh.
4 moment more and crowds bcsicged
the drug stores begging for aid and
| clattering gongs of ambulances rang
between the tall buildings The tcne'
ments TO the east Of Lexington avenue
poured thousands into the streets.
Whole houses were cmptied in |.
twinkling. The tall facades of the
many fashionable hotels in the neigh.
borhood were spotted with faces of
half dressed guests. shaken from their
slccu, peeriug from brokcn windows
Black robed priests from st. Pat
rick's cathedral nearby and white
coated ambulance surgeons passed each
other on kindred crrans of consola
ton and comfort
At least two of the injured in the
Flou,cr hospital arc so severely burt
. TINT ~ is bPllPNCi lu'N WIZ '''ps 'N'N
arc Mrs. Bell Hawkes. and Andrew
Harris
4 rang cf more than fifty bricklay
crs. sixty feet In the air on the big
power buildiug near the scene of the
explosion. had remarkable escape
/ An air cushion formed hy the explosion
below, hoisted up the big scaffold or
which they wero working. tilted 1T IN
wardlv and tossed the men over Tho
vail and onto n firm scaffoldiDg con
structed on the inside, Only one mar
; OF The gang was injured, and be onl,
slightly.
Held Fast by Her Hair,
One woman in the wrecked trolley
ear had her hair caught and held IN
Grm grip between iammed portions OF
The debris. She had tainted and coul'
moi bc lifted ont until fjremcn cut he
l bnir. She was found TO be only slight
Iy hurt. A long coil of this woman
2 hair is at the fire house, awaiting IT
: owner.
: Fire Commissioner Waldo, wh'
r reached the scene Of The explosion with
: Continued on Page Ten.