The Detroit times., 1911-05-17
DlTEsST. BUILDING
IS WRECKED BY
EXPLOSION
Police Think Leaking Gas the Cause
But Company Says Supply Was
Shut 0f-Six People Injured,
One Seriously.
Police Lieut.. Walpole Falls Dead
From Over-ExertiOn After Rescu-
ing Tenants of Building.

causes OF the explosion that wrecked
the building at Nos. 1879 Bates-st,
al l:45 O'Clock, Wednesday morning.
has developed considerable mystery.
Lieut.. OF Police Henry Walpole,. one
OF the veteran officers Of the Central
precinct, sacrificed his life In effect
Ing the rescue or occupants OF the
burning structure. A half-dozen per-
sons were injured, one seriously.
A terrific roar that rocked adjoin.
ing buildings and shook police head
quarters building across the street,
y brought a swarm OF officers to the
three-story building, where the explo-
sion occurred.
The explosion took place In the
rooms occupied by the Fraternal Or
der OF Rangers. one of the many so
cial drinking clubs that sprang up fol.
lowing Police Commissioners Crouls
rigid enforcement OF the Warner
Cramton liquor laws. These rooms
were wrecked, all that remained or
them being a chaotic mass OF beer and
whisky bottles, plaster and lath.
On the ground floor Is the Modern
Print Shop, F. e. Munger, proprietor.
4 This place also is in ruins. Mr.. Mum
ger says his loss will easily total S..
600. The saloon OF Herman Wayne
also Is badly damaged.
Lieut.. OF Detectives ELI Baker made
q complete investigation OF the explo-
sion and gave 1t as his opinion that II
was caused by gas. He bases his opin-
Ion mainly on the statement OF Jesse
Gore, who was just leaving the Rang
ers' club when the explosion took
place. Gore says he used gas plate
upon which to heat water, shortly be-
fore the explosion occurred.
James McManus, foreman OF the gas
company shops, says there could be
no gas In the place, because the pipes
& were disconnected and the meter seal
ed up on May IL. Investigation Is be-
ing conducted to see IL gas could not
have been procured through by-pipe,
OF which the company had no knowl-
4 edge. The place was lighted by cleo
tricity.
A strong odor OF gasoline could be
detected In the rooms Of the wrecked
building, and there is.a. strong belief
that the explosion came from that
cause. .,s AS
Jesse Gore. No. 400 Monroe-ave.,
was leaving the place at 1:45 We'd |
nesdays morning About 20 minutes
M HElUEe ludl, luClC hau bSOh eN-O-
men In the place drinking. Gore !
lighted a cigarette and threw the
burning match on the floor. There
was a binding fash Of light and q
terrific roar.
Gore fell to. the floor and crawled
on his hands and knees. He says he
remembers crawling to the doorway
s leading to the street below. He rolled
Il 4. n a Ell tv<u and 4
then, he says, he remembers no more. |
Citizens stopped him two blocks away.
He had started to run blindly down |
Bates-st. An auto patrol took him to
ST. Mary's hospital. He is bruised
and cut and both eyes are closed.
Archie Steele and Walter Becker,
members OF the Rangers club. were
Just going into the place. Steele had
already inserted his key into the lock.
The force blew the key ring on the
key. The index finger of Steele's
right hand was almost severed Both
* he and Becker were stunned and
bruised
Through the heroic efforts of Lieut.,
Walpole, the tenants on the third floor
OF the building, got out In safety, al
though one OF the stairways leading
10 the t1lIQ uOOI WAS OtOWh Jul.
Mrs. Herman Wayne, wife Of the
saloonkeeper at No. 1877 Bates-st-, who
~ IN delicate health, became hysteri-
n and attempted to leap from the
rning building She was stopped
the shouts OF those below. Both
Wayne's feet were cut by glass and
0orge Merrill q roomer, was also
but and bruised.
<.eo,,r,a ~ ~ th< yiona all nanna
10 the street In their night clothing
and were given shelter in neighboring
buildings until the Are was extinguish.
Cd. when they were able to return to
81 their quarters.
Lieut.. walpole. on night duty at po-
lice headquarters, was the first oficer
to reach the scene. His first thought
was OF the imperiled occupants Of the
building and needless of his own dan.
ger, he dashed up the smokeflled
stairway. He hurried from room TO
room, assisting the tenants to the
exits. When he saw that everybody
was safely to the street, he returned.
He walked about 20 feet from the
scene OF the fire. Fellow officers saw
him stagger and hold forth his hands
a. n TO steady himself Sergt. Harry
Kinney ran to the aid of his stricken
comrade, but before he could get to
the lieutenant, he had fallen to the
walk. Officers carried him tendenly to
police headquarters and medical aid
was summoned. But 1t was too late.
He passed away In the station where
he had served faithfully for 10 years.
Only week ago he had celebrated the
twenty-fifth anniversary OF his service
with the department.
Capt Baker was much affected by
Lieut.. Walpole's death.
II knew him intimately for Is
years" said the captain. He was
q thorough officer and thorough
gentleman. No man In the depart.
ment was better acquainted with the
subnormal conditions Of this city. He
was a great instrument OF reform and
many q young girl he has saved from
going wrong. Henry made them for.
get they we're talking TO an officer.
He talked to them like a father His
loss II a severe blow TO the depart.
ment. II Is impossible to replace
men Of his type"
The lieutenant was 81 years old
and unmarried
Over-exertion Is pronounced the
cause OF HIS death. His body is now
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